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

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

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.

Edmundo González, recognized by the United States as Venezuela’s president-elect, urges the Trump administration not to deal with the Maduro regime on immigration.

The message seemed designed to reach Washington as one administration prepares to hand the baton to the next: If the United States keeps messing with Venezuela, then Caracas will retaliate by “liberating” the US territory of Puerto Rico,

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.

U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Richard Grenell will meet with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday in Venezuela, both countries said, amid a deportation and anti-gang push by the Trump administration that has ruffled feathers around Latin America.