Overview

• Joseph St. Clair, detained in Venezuela since November 2024, has returned to the U.S. after being declared wrongfully detained by the State Department.
• The handover was facilitated by U.S. special envoy Richard Grenell, who negotiated with Venezuelan officials in Antigua on May 20, 2025.
• As part of the negotiations, the U.S. offered a 60-day extension of Chevron's operating license in Venezuela, pending final approval by U.S. government agencies.
• St. Clair, a decorated veteran of four Afghanistan tours, was seeking PTSD treatment in South America when he was detained near the Colombia-Venezuela border.
• Eight other Americans remain in Venezuelan custody, and the U.S. continues diplomatic efforts to secure their release.