Ten U.S. Hostages Freed From Venezuelan Prison. El Salvador’s President Bukele Steps Up to Help Bring Them Home.
After almost a year, the family of Wilbert Castaneda received the news they had been waiting for. All they knew so far was that Wilbert, a Navy SEAL of nearly twenty years, has been held captive by the Venezuelan Government. However, on Friday, July 18th, they were finally given word that Wilbert, along with 9 other hostages, would be coming home.
The Gateway Pundit had been alerted to Castaneda’s plight earlier this year by a January 6th hostage. The J6er met Scott St. Clair, father of Joseph St. Clair, who was another Venezuelan Hostage, at a church event and told him that maybe TGP could help get their story out. You can see that story HERE…
On January 31st, 2025, United States Envoy to Special Missions Ric Grenell, returned from Venezuela with six Americans, hostages of the Maduro Regime. It was then that the number and names of the hostages left behind became known. Eleven men were still left languishing in horrific conditions and praying that they were not forgotten.
Christian Castaneda and Scott St. Clair were able to confirm from the six rescued by Ric Grenell that their brother and son were being held in this prison. Joseph St. Clair, an Air Force Veteran, and Wilbert, an active-duty Navy SEAL, along with nine others, were finally revealed. Previously, the families either had no idea where these men were or had very little communication. At the time, Joseph had not been in contact with his family for three months, and Wilbert had not been heard from in six months.
Once the eleven remaining men were known, the campaign to get them home went into full gear. BringOurFamiliesHome.org has been amazing in advocating for not just the Venezuelan Hostages but also for American Hostages being held around the world.
GiveSendGo.com/HelpWilbertsFamily
BringOurFamiliesHome.org had a mural campaign in Washington DC that was put up by the families and showcased some of the Political Hostages’ pictures.
Fast forward to May 20th, 2025, and Americans were able to celebrate the release of Joseph St. Clair. His family was finally reunited with him.
As I was on my way to see the mural that @BOFHcampaign and families of these hostages erected 2 or so weeks ago, I received a message that USAF Vet Joseph St.Clair is headed home!!!! So overjoyed that words escape me!!!
Prayers for the St. Clair family!!! @tsori233… pic.twitter.com/WYpSf4loat— Jenn Baker (@JennBakermjb) May 20, 2025
When asked about the release of the remaining hostages, Scott St. Clair happily replied,
“We are elated that the other Americans held hostage by Maduro are finally home. We are deeply grateful to the Trump administration for demonstrating the leadership and taking the decisive action needed to secure their release. Since Joe’s rescue in May, our hearts and prayers have remained with those still in captivity. The families we’ve come to know and love through this journey—fighting side by side for the freedom of our loved ones—have become like brothers and sisters to us. Joe is also thrilled and relieved that his fellow hostages are finally free.”
Today, ten more families are feeling the joy of reuniting with their loved ones. There was a lot of negotiating between several countries to make the release happen. President Bukele of El Salvador was a determining factor in these negotiations between the US and Venezuela. As part of the agreement there was an exchange for more than 250 Venezuelan nationals who had been deported from the US to El Salvador earlier in the year and held at the notorious CECOT mega-prison. These individuals all known to Americans as dangerous criminals and members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, though their lawyers argue otherwise.
- Wilbert Joseph Castaneda
- Jorge Marcelo Vargas
- Lucas Hunter
- Jonathan Pagan Gonzalez
- Ronald Oribio Quintana
- Erick Oribio Quintana
- Fabian Buglione Reyes
- Renzo Humanchumo Castillo
- Juan Jose Faria Bricen
- Danud Hanid Ortiz
Thank you @nayibbukele Thank you for bringing these men home!!!! God Bless ALL involved!!!@WJC_Navy_Sailor @tsori233 @BOFHcampaign @ChrisHarrisADG @DahmnSon1 @VanillaGorilaX @CondemnedUSA @DonateARA @realDonaldTrump @marcorubio
And many many more https://t.co/QWwuxHW0p2— Jenn Baker (@JennBakermjb) July 19, 2025
When I reached out to Christian Castaneda to express my joy and excitement of his brother is coming home, he asked me to share the following statement with The Gateway Pundit readers…
To Help the Castaneda Family please visit HERE
“We have prayed for this day for almost a year. My brother is an innocent man who was used as a political pawn by the Maduro regime. We knew that President Trump would not leave a decorated SEAL behind. We are grateful to him and Special Envoys Grenell and Boehler for bringing Wilbert back home with the other detainees to reunite with their families.”
“My brother has served honorably in the US Navy for over 18 years and, because of his role as a breacher and dealing with regular exposure to explosions, he has suffered several traumatic brain injuries. His medical condition worsened from those workplace hazards, which we believe impaired his judgment and risk mitigation. His condition led him to make a bad decision to travel to Venezuela. We are just glad that he is out and able to receive the treatment and help he deserves and will be able to celebrate his upcoming 38th birthday with his family in freedom.”
It has been almost a year since Wilbert has had any connection with his family. The home to his small children, and all his assets are in danger of being foreclosed on and/or taken from them.
For more information on U.S. National Hostages and those being wrongfully detained around the world you can visit JamesFoleyFoundation.org
Too see the interview with Scott St. Clair and Christian Castaneda advocating for their son and brother CLICK HERE
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