State Department warns US citizens to leave Venezuela

A team from the State Department arrived in Caracas, Venezuela, on Friday, U.S. officials confirmed to ABC News.

The visit comes less than a week after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and it comes as the Trump administration is considering reopening its embassy in Caracas which has been shuttered since March 2019, when the Maduro government severed diplomatic ties with the first Trump administration.

The team dispatched on Friday consists of U.S. diplomatic and security personnel from the "Venezuela Affairs Unit," which is based in Colombia, according to a U.S. official.

The acting U.S. ambassador to Colombia, John McNamara, is a part of the team there “to conduct an initial assessment for a potential phased resumption of operations.”

A senior State Department official said Monday the department was “making preparations to allow for a reopening” of its embassy in Venezuela “should the president make that decision.”

-ABC News' Mariam Khan and Luis Martinez

U.S. forces boarded another Venezuela-linked oil tanker in the Caribbean on Friday, according to U.S. Southern Command.

This is the fifth oil tanker to be seized by the United States and the third in the last three days.

"Early this morning, the [U.S. Coast Guard] executed a boarding and seizure of the Motor Tanker Olina in international waters east of the Caribbean Sea. As another 'ghost fleet' tanker ship suspected of carrying embargoed oil, this vessel had departed Venezuela attempting to evade U.S. forces," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on X.

"The ghost fleets will not outrun justice. They will not hide under false claims of nationality. The Coast Guard will seize sanctioned oil tankers, enforce U.S. and international law, and eliminate these funding streams for illicit activity including narco-terrorism," Noem wrote.

The U.S. Coast Guard is in the lead with support being provided by the U.S. military, sources told ABC News.

-ABC News’ Luis Martinez

President Trump called the release of several political prisoners a "very important and smart gesture," and that a "previously expected second Wave of Attacks" has been canceled because of this decision.

Venezuela is releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of "Seeking Peace," Trump said on Truth Social Friday morning.

Two prominent Venezuelan opposition politicians, six Spanish nationals, and two Colombian nationals will be released by Venezuelan authorities Thursday, the Spanish president’s office and the Venezuelan Communication Ministry confirmed to ABC News on Thursday.

"This is a very important and smart gesture. The U.S.A. and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure,” Trump wrote.

“Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks, which looks like it will not be needed, however, all ships will stay in place for safety and security purposes,” he continued.

Echoing the comments he made to Fox News' Sean Hannity, Trump said that "at least 100 billion dollars will be invested by big oil." His remarks come as he prepares to meet with oil executives at the White House Friday afternoon.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

President Donald Trump said he will be meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at the White House "next week sometime."

"Well, I understand she's coming in next week sometime, and I look forward to saying hello to her," Trump said in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity on Thursday.

Trump also touted his relationship with the rebuilding Venezuelan government, reiterating his efforts to dominate the region's oil infrastructure.

"We're going to rebuild the oil and the oil infrastructure, we'll be in charge of it," Trump said. "It's going to do great, make a lot of money, and we're going to take it from there, but we're going to rebuild the country. And ultimately, you're going to have elections."

Trump also took responsibility for the release of political prisoners from Venezuela after the National Assembly said releases are set to take place immediately.

"We asked them to do that, and they've been great. They really have been. I mean, we-- everything we've wanted, they've given us," Trump said.