Venezuela has repeatedly accused the United States of detaining and effectively 'kidnapping' Venezuelan children separated from their parents during immigration enforcement actions. The Venezuelan government claims that 18 children were initially taken by U.S. authorities amid deportation processes, with some reports later increasing this figure to 33 children still held in the U.S. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and other officials, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, have publicly condemned these actions, describing them as illegal and demanding the immediate return of the minors. Some of the children are reportedly the offspring of parents who were detained and deported to El Salvador. In late July 2025, Venezuela received a group of seven children deported from Houston, alongside over 230 repatriated Venezuelan migrants, amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Caracas over family separations. Maduro has also criticized U.S. officials, including John McNamara, in connection with the issue. The Venezuelan government continues to call on international bodies such as the United Nations to intervene and address the situation.