Ric Grenell has traveled to Venezuela to meet with socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro and demand that he accept deported criminals from the U.S. and release American hostages.

A Trump envoy traveled to Venezuela to urge authoritarian President Maduro to accept deported migrants. The U.S. does not recognize Maduro's claim to victory.

The visit came as a shock to many Venezuelans who hoped that Trump would continue the “maximum pressure” campaign he pursued against the authoritarian Venezuelan leader during his first term.

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

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.

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

WASHINGTON/BOGOTA - U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Richard Grenell and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had a respectful discussion about migration, sanctions and Americans detained in the South American country,

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.

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.