Kerry Khan

Less than 40 detainees had been released from Venezuelan prisons as of Thursday morning, according to the human rights group Foro Penal.

Jorge Rodriguez, the head of the National Assembly, and the brother of the interim president had said 300 prisoners would be released on humanitarian grounds.

Authorities did release three men, former police officers, who had spent each more than 20 years in Venezuelan custody.

They were convicted in connection to the deaths of protesters during a 2002 opposition march.

Human rights groups say there are at least 400 political prisoners still held in jails, despite an amnesty law passed this year and pledges of more releases this week, including from President Trump.

Carrie Khan, NPR News.

We are worried that it's been so slow.

I don't want...

The same thing that has happened in the past.

They release 100 and then they incarcerate new 100.

According to the State Department, the diplomats and security officials, including charge d'affaires John T. McNamara, are in Venezuela to carry out a technical and logistical assessment toward renewing ties.

The government of Venezuela's acting president, Delsa Rodriguez, also confirmed the visit, which it said was to work on an agenda of mutual interest.

But in a statement, officials stressed the need to address what it said was the criminal, illegitimate, and illegal aggression perpetrated against Venezuela

and the, quote, kidnapping of its president, Nicolás Maduro.

The U.S.

and Venezuela severed relations in 2019 after Maduro expelled U.S.

diplomats from the country.

Carrie Khan, NPR News, Bogota, Colombia.

President Trump has been weighing military options against Venezuela.

He says discussion with Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro may be coming and that the Venezuelans, quote, would like to talk.