Six Americans who had been detained in Venezuela in recent months were freed by the government of President Nicolás Maduro after he met Friday with a Trump administration official tasked with urging the authoritarian leader to take back deported migrants who have committed crimes in the United States.

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.

The announcement came a day after the U.S. secured the release of six hostages from the South American country.