Trump Special Envoy to Demand Maduro Take Back Tren De Aragua Members: Officials

As President Donald Trump continues with his mass deportation plans, multiple sources reported on Jan. 31 that Richard Grenell, Trump's Special Envoy, will meet with Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro to demand the dictator take any Tren de Aragua members that are deported by American officials.

According to reports, the U.S. Special Envoy for Latin America, Mauricio Claver-Carone, confirmed the meeting between Grenell and Maduro during a press conference, saying that the meeting "was not a negotiation, but to pass along a distinct message about two issues."

The two issues mentioned by Claver-Carone involve taking in "Venezuelan criminals" linked to the Tren de Aragua gang as well as the release of American hostages so that they can "immediately" return to their home country.

"If these conditions are not met, there will be retaliation from the U.S. government," Claver-Carone added.

The diplomat highlighted that during Marco Rubio's visit to Venezuela, U.S. representatives will not negotiate with Maduro about the purchase of oil produced in the South American country.

"There is no negotiation here about oil, Trump has made it clear that he is not interested in Venezuela's oil," Claver-Carone added.

Venezuelan journalist Carla Angola said on her X social media account that the Trump administration is also considering sending Tren de Aragua deportees to El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele has agreed to house them inside the country's prison system.

As reported by The Latin Times, President Trump said last month that Venezuela would face "tough economic consequences" if it refused to accept deported Tren de Aragua members. "Venezuela and other countries didn't behave very well during my first term. In 24 hours, they will behave very well," he added.

Tackling the Venezuelan gang has been one of Trump's priorities since being sworn in on Jan. 20. That same day, he signed an executive order labeling Tren de Aragua and the Salvadoran MS-13 gang as "threats to the stability of the international order in the Western Hemisphere." Trump's order also asked that the terrorist designation apply to Mexico's drug cartels.