Air Force veteran Joseph St. Clair returned home Tuesday after being detained in Venezuela since November 2024 after receiving mental healthcare in Colombia.
St. Clair was handed over to President Donald Trump’s envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell, in a deal reportedly tied to oil giant Chevron’s dealings in the country. The move follows another Grenell-handled release in Venezuela involving six other prisoners. During the previous deal, Grenell urged the Venezuelan government to take in deported Venezuelan nationals.
St. Clair, originally from Washington state, was a language specialist who went on four tours in Afghanistan. He suffered from what his parents said was severe post-traumatic stress disorder, which was the reason he sought mental health treatment in Colombia.
St. Clair’s parents, Scott and Patti, did not know their son’s whereabouts until February, when they received a call from the Colombian Consulate seeking to inform them.
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“This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it, but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,” the St. Clairs said in a statement.
The Foley Foundation reported that at least 54 Americans were wrongfully detained overseas in 2024 for an average of about six years at a time, while only 17 were released in that year.