Venezuela is expected to permit the US to return deported migrants directly to the South American country after an adviser to President Donald Trump flew to Caracas for talks with the regime.

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

Venezuela has freed six US detainees after talks in Caracas between President Nicolás Maduro and a senior Trump administration official. The release of the men was announced on social media by Donald Trump and his special envoy, Richard Grenell.

U.S. presses for release of 15 American detainees, offering to continue sanction- exemptions for U.S. oil companies.

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.

Six Americans who had been detained in Venezuela were freed by the government of President Nicolas Maduro after he met with a Trump administration official on Friday. US President Donald Trump and his envoy for special missions Richard Grenell announced the release of the six men on social media.

A senior Trump administration official traveled to Venezuela to urge President Maduro’s government to accept deported migrants, a U.S. official said.

The government of Venezuela will take back tens of thousands of migrants, President Trump said Saturday, removing a major obstacle to his plans for mass deportations. The deal was negotiated with Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro by Trump adviser Richard Grenell,