Washington D.C., May 20, 2025 – Hostage Aid Worldwide welcomes the safe return of U.S. Air Force veteran Joseph St. Clair, 33, who was unlawfully detained in Venezuela since November 2024. St. Clair, a decorated veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), had been held incommunicado, with no contact with his family for months.
Despite being excluded from a previous deal that secured the release of six detained Americans in Venezuela, today marks a turning point. His release was made possible through a separate negotiation led by U.S. Special Envoy Ambassador Richard Grenell. St. Clair will now be reunited with his family, bringing an end to a harrowing ordeal.
“We are overjoyed to see Joseph safely home,” said Nizar Zakka, CEO of Hostage Aid Worldwide and a former hostage himself. “No American should ever be left behind. Joseph’s return is a victory for justice and persistence, and a testament to the tireless efforts of those who refused to give up on him. But our work is far from over, as many Americans remain unlawfully detained in Venezuela and elsewhere. We cannot stop until they too are brought safely home.”
Hostage Aid Worldwide applauds and urges the Trump administration to keep the momentum going and continue fighting for the freedom of every hostage and unlawfully detained American abroad.
