Venezuela Enacts Broad Amnesty for Hundreds of Political Prisoners After U.S. Raid Ousts Maduro

Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez on Thursday signed into law a sweeping amnesty bill that could free hundreds of people jailed for political reasons, marking the government’s first formal acknowledgment in decades that it has held political prisoners. The measure, approved hours earlier by the National Assembly, grants general and full amnesty for offenses tied to politically driven conflicts dating back to 1999, including acts around the disputed 2024 presidential election that led to more than 2,000 arrests. Rights group Foro Penal estimates over 600 people remain in custody for political reasons, including opposition politicians, activists, journalists and lawyers who were targeted under Nicolás Maduro’s rule before his capture in a U.S. military raid in Caracas last month. The debate exposed resistance among some ruling‑party loyalists, especially over whether exiles could benefit, but lawmakers ultimately allowed lawyers to seek amnesty on behalf of those abroad so they would not have to return to Venezuela to qualify. Coming alongside a rapid overhaul of Venezuela’s oil law to align with Trump administration demands, the amnesty underscores how U.S. military intervention is reshaping Caracas’ internal politics and human‑rights posture, with opposition figures calling the law imperfect but a major step that could end years of suffering for families of detainees.