November 21st 2023.
The family of Savoi Wright, a 38-year-old businessman from California, have expressed their horror and disbelief after his arrest and detainment in Venezuela. According to Yahoo News, the Biden administration had recently loosened the oil sanctions previously imposed on the country's socialist government, yet Wright has not been allowed to see his lawyer, and details of his detainment remain hidden.
Erin Stewart, Wright's mother, said that the situation is like a "nightmare" and that feeling of being powerless is the worst. “As Americans, when a loved one is in this horrific situation, you think someone is going to be there to help, and when they don’t, it’s the worst feeling in the world,” said Moizeé Stewart, Wright’s sister.
Wright is one of seven U.S. citizens who have been wrongfully detained in Venezuela, and his release is dependent upon the turning over of tens of thousands of dollars. As part of the deal struck with Nicolás Maduro's government, the Biden administration has demanded the release of political prisoners and U.S. citizens, including Wright, by the end of November. If these demands are not met, sanctions that were enforced during the Trump presidency will be reinstated.
In July 2022, three Americans were arrested along the Colombia-Venezuela border, and this incident has highlighted the risks for unsuspecting Americans who are seeking to enter Venezuela without a visa. Some lawmakers have argued that Wright's arrest is another attempt by Maduro to call Biden's "bluff" and that the use of American lives as bargaining chips is "unacceptable".
Wright's family has urged the Biden administration to take further action to help secure his release, and to work to protect other U.S. citizens who are currently detained in Venezuela. They hope that the U.S. government will step in to help bring Wright home safely, and that the situation will be resolved soon.
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