A report indicates that at least five Americans, including a New Yorker, are currently detained in Venezuela. This comes in the wake of the Trump administration’s intensified military and economic pressure on the country.
Among those imprisoned is James Lackey-Lange, a 28-year-old from Staten Island. He was sentenced for alleged false imprisonment, according to information shared with The New York Times.
Lackey-Lange’s family reported him missing earlier this month. He disappeared soon after crossing into Venezuela while embarking on a journey through Latin America, following the passing of his mother, musician Diane Lackey.
“He was moving around and trying to find his way,” said Eva Arigis Fuentes, a filmmaker who worked with Lackey-Lange on a documentary about his mother. “He has endured so much loss.”
It’s unclear if Lackey-Lange had a visa for his entry into Venezuela. He had mentioned in a blog earlier that month his plans to explore gold mining near the Guyana-Venezuela border.
His last communication with family was on December 8, when he indicated he would be traveling to Caracas to catch a flight back to New York on December 12.
His aunt, Abby Lackey, noted that she has yet to receive any updates from U.S. officials regarding her nephew’s situation, and the family is actively seeking information.
Alongside Lackey-Lange, three other dual Venezuelan-American passport holders and one American citizen with unclear connections to Venezuela are also being held, as per U.S. officials.
Of the five detained, two are reported to have been wrongfully detained, while the other three face charges that U.S. authorities believe might be valid.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has historically leveraged the detention of Americans in negotiations with the United States, irrespective of the legitimacy of their alleged charges.
This year, 17 Americans were released as part of negotiations between the Trump administration and Maduro. However, those discussions came to a halt after the U.S. intensified its pressure on the Maduro regime, which coincided with a rise in detentions of Americans in the fall.
Previous detainees have recounted mistreatment in Venezuela’s prison system, alleging a lack of due process and false accusations.
In addition to Lackey-Lange, the U.S. has identified Jonathan Torres Duque, 26, and Aydel Suarez, a Cuban-born U.S. permanent resident, as other detainees. The identities of additional Americans held in Venezuela remain undisclosed, and Venezuelan officials have not publicly addressed the matter.
The State Department has not responded to requests for comments regarding this situation.
