Venezuela's interim government announced last week it would begin releasing political prisoners, prompting both hope and uncertainty among families and observers. The announcement followed the U.S.'s involvement in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and the subsequent installation of Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim leader.

Ramón Guanipa Linares, the son of Juan Pablo Guanipa, a prominent opposition politician detained for eight months, traveled to Caracas upon hearing the news. Juan Pablo Guanipa was imprisoned for challenging Maduro's rule. "I wanted to be the first to hug my father," Ramón Guanipa Linares said in a phone interview from his home in Maracaibo. However, upon arriving at the prison, he found no information regarding his father's release. "They had no information about his liberation or anything like that. They were just rumors," he stated.

The amnesty announcement comes as a surprise to many Venezuelans, given Rodríguez's previous affiliation with the Maduro regime. Her unexpected alliance with the United States has led to cautious optimism, but also skepticism about the long-term implications for Venezuelan politics.

The policy details of the amnesty remain unclear, including the number of prisoners eligible for release and the criteria for their selection. This lack of transparency has fueled frustration among families of political prisoners, who are eager for information about their loved ones' status.

The situation remains fluid, with families continuing to seek information and clarity from government officials. The interim government has yet to release a comprehensive list of prisoners to be released or a timeline for the amnesty process. The coming days are expected to be crucial in determining the scope and impact of this policy shift.