Colombia Reports 801 Nationals Still Detained in Venezuelan Prisons

Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that at least 801 Colombian citizens remain detained in Venezuela, a figure that contradicts the expectations generated by the amnesty law promoted by the government of Delcy Rodriguez.

The data, confirmed amid growing complaints from relatives, shows that the promise of mass releases did not translate into significant relief for hundreds of Colombians who remain deprived of liberty across the border, although Colombia confirmed that the creation of a “joint mechanism” to address the issue was agreed bilaterally.

For months, the Colombian government had bet on a diplomatic solution supported by the amnesty as a mechanism to unlock detention cases that, in many instances, human rights organizations consider arbitrary. However, the persistence of hundreds of Colombians in Venezuelan prisons reflects the limits of that process and once again raises alarms about the humanitarian situation.

Colombia reports 801 nationals still detained in Venezuelan prisons

The figure of 801 Colombians detained was presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of an official report aimed at gauging the magnitude of the problem. The number includes both common prisoners and individuals detained in political contexts or under charges that their families consider unfounded.

This data is particularly significant because it comes after the implementation of the amnesty law in Venezuela, announced at the beginning of 2026—following the political change in the neighboring country—as a gesture of national reconciliation.

At the time, the Venezuelan government assured that the measure would allow for the release of hundreds of detainees, including foreigners. However, the reality has been far more limited. In this regard, Colombia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rosa Villavicencio, explained that official communications seek to clarify the legal and humanitarian status of those detained.

“We sent this letter requesting this diplomatic note, precisely to request information about the detainees,” the minister said, stressing that the government has insisted on the need for clear answers regarding procedural delays and consular visits. Villavicencio added that Colombia has submitted 21 diplomatic notes so far this year to request explanations from the authorities in Caracas.

Various organizations have warned that the scope of the amnesty was restricted from the outset. Although the Venezuelan executive spoke of thousands of beneficiaries, independent reports indicate that only a fraction of prisoners were actually released. In that context, detained Colombians have remained in a gray area, without clarity about their legal status or guarantees of release.

The minister also announced the creation of a joint mechanism to address the issue, which has hundreds of Colombian families waiting for news about their relatives imprisoned in the neighboring country.

“Both delegations agreed to establish a working group on issues related to these procedural delays, consular visits, persons deprived of liberty, and to determine the pretrial status of Colombian citizens,” Villavicencio said.

The meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 25, with participation from the Ministry of Justice, Colombia’s prison authority (INPEC), and the Vice Ministry for Migratory and Consular Affairs.

Families in uncertainty

Meanwhile, the families of the detainees continue to face a situation of prolonged distress. In Colombia, several of them have staged protests and made appeals to state entities to demand answers.

Testimonies point to a lack of information, difficulties in establishing contact with detainees, and poor conditions in some detention centers. The absence of progress following the amnesty has increased frustration and the sense of abandonment.

The figure of 801 Colombians imprisoned in Venezuela reflects, beyond a number, a situation that the new Venezuelan government had pledged to reverse, at least by providing information about the prisoners’ status and facilitating contact with relatives and representatives of Colombian authorities.

Amid unfulfilled promises and political decisions that have yet to materialize, hundreds of people remain trapped in a legal limbo that challenges diplomacy and tests the relationship between two historically interdependent countries.

For their part, the families of the prisoners are awaiting concrete results from that first meeting between representatives of both governments to seek a solution to a problem that keeps them on edge.