A senior Trump administration official traveled Friday to Venezuela to urge President Nicolás Maduro’s government to take back deported migrants who have committed crimes in the United States and release a handful of imprisoned Americans.

Despite the visit, Mauricio Claver-Carone, Trump's special envoy to Latin America, emphasized that Grenell's mission does not alter the administration's goal of restoring democracy in Venezuela. He warned of consequences if Maduro's government does not cooperate.

A State Department official said Venezuela must take back “Venezuelan criminals and gangs” and release American “hostages” immediately.

Washington to push Caracas to take thousands of deportees, sparking alarm among country’s embattled opposition

U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Richard Grenell will meet with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday in Venezuela, the U.S. and Venezuela both said.

A senior U.S. official traveled Friday to Venezuela to urge President Nicolás Maduro to take back deported migrants who committed crimes in the United States and release a handful of imprisoned Americans.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Richard Grenell is expected to meet with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday in Venezuela, CNN reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. Reuters could not immediately verify the meeting.