The UN Fact-Finding Mission in Venezuela stated on Wednesday that despite some limited improvements in the human rights situation in the South American country, institutions involved in rights violations and repression remained intact.
Sofia Macher, chair of the UN mission
Venezuela's Reopening: Investment, Infrastructure, and Technology Opportunities in a Rebuilding Latin America
As we enter the latter part of 2026, eight months after the removal of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela is presenting foreign investors with an opportunity that has not existed in a generation. Sanctions relief is expanding, new mining and energy legislation
America’s Right to Kidnap
“The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.” (Thucydides)1)
On September 3, 2026, lawyers for Nicolás Maduro filed a motion asking a federal judge in Manhattan to dismiss the narco-terrorism indictment against him,
OFAC Removes the US Governing-Law Condition from the Venezuela General Licenses and Issues New Authorizations Related to Telecommunications and Coal
Since August 21, 2026, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC“) has made a series of changes to the Venezuela-related general licenses (“GLs“) issued under the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 591 (“VSR“). OFAC
Ousted Venezuelan president Maduro and wife move to dismiss drug trafficking indictment on sovereign immunity grounds
Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, filed separate motions Wednesday in Manhattan federal court seeking dismissal of the charges against them. Maduro argued that he remains Venezuela’s head of state for immunity purposes, notwithstanding the United
Semafor Quotes Cari Stinebower on Trump Administration's Venezuelan Oil Investment
Overview
Steptoe partner Cari Stinebower was quoted by Semafor in an article titled “Trump’s Venezuela Deal Draws Scrutiny of Obscure Pentagon Office.” The article discusses the Trump administration announcement that a Pentagon investment office will take a 35% stake in
Weekly Trade Update: August 24-28, 2026
OFAC Makes Iran-related Updates to SDN List
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) took additional actions as part of “Operation Economic Outcast”, the Administration’s sanctions campaign against Iran. OFAC announced the addition of an Iranian national (Reza Mohammad Taeedi) and
OFAC Issues General Licenses Authorizing Activity in Venezuelan Telecommunications Sector
On August 21, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License (GL) 61 and GL 62, respectively authorizing the provision of U.S. goods, technology, software, and services in support of telecommunications
FinCEN Commits to Forbear from BSA Enforcement for Authorized Financial Services in Venezuela
On July 27, 2026, the US Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued a statement (here) of enforcement policy committing not to take supervisory or enforcement action against US financial institutions under the Bank Secrecy
TPS and Humanitarian Parole Landscape Continues to Shift: Key Updates for Employers and Foreign Nationals
The landscape for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and humanitarian parole continues to change rapidly, creating uncertainty for hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals and posing significant compliance challenges for U.S. employers.