Amidst Venezuela’s dramatic political turmoil, a U.S. citizen from New York faces potential unlawful detention by the Venezuelan government, sparking urgent action from a Republican lawmaker.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., is pressing the U.S. State Department for assistance in securing the release of James Luckey-Lange, a constituent from her district who is reportedly detained in Venezuela, while the nation reels from the recent capture of former President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, 2026, in Cúcuta, Colombia, and his ongoing trial in Manhattan alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, on terrorism-related charges since Jan. 5, 2026.

The issue has sparked intense debate over U.S. foreign policy and the safety of American citizens abroad, especially in a country long flagged as a high-risk zone for wrongful detentions.

Malliotakis Responds to Constituent Crisis

Malliotakis learned of Luckey-Lange’s situation through media reports on a recent Friday and swiftly reached out to the State Department for clarity and action.

The family believes he may have been held for weeks, possibly since arriving in Venezuela in December, even before Maduro’s dramatic ouster.

Details remain murky—whether Luckey-Lange had a visa to enter Venezuela is unknown, and the U.S. government has yet to confirm his detention status.

State Department Warnings Ignored?

The State Department has repeatedly cautioned Americans against traveling to Venezuela, citing a significant risk of unjust detentions, a warning that seems all too relevant now.

“For months, the State Department has advised American citizens not to travel to Venezuela, determining a very high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals in the country,” a statement from Malliotakis’ office noted. “While we have not yet been able to confirm he has been detained, we are engaged, actively monitoring the situation, and have elevated our concern directly to the White House and the Secretary of State.”

That’s a polite way of saying the government’s hands are tied until more facts emerge, but one wonders if earlier, firmer action could have kept Americans out of such dangerous territory.

Venezuela’s Chaos Adds Urgency

Adding to the urgency, Venezuela’s political landscape is in freefall after Maduro’s capture, with citizens celebrating in the streets and his vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, stepping in as acting president on a recent Tuesday.

President Donald Trump’s recent declaration that the U.S. will “run” Venezuela until a proper transition occurs signals a bold, if controversial, stance on stabilizing the region.

Yet, while we’re playing geopolitical chess, an American citizen sits in potential peril—shouldn’t that be the priority over grandstanding?

Balancing Intervention and Safety

Malliotakis, fresh from a classified House briefing on Venezuela led by top Trump administration officials on a recent Wednesday, is pulling every lever to bring Luckey-Lange home.

“My biggest issue at the moment is that I have a constituent who is suspected of being unlawfully detained by the Venezuelan government,” Malliotakis stated. Her words cut through the noise—while policy debates rage, a human life hangs in the balance.

Let’s hope the State Department moves faster than a Caracas traffic jam, because in a country where leaders are snatched, and streets erupt in celebration, an American’s safety can’t wait for bureaucratic dawdling.