Nicolás Maduro’s regime on Friday released six American citizens imprisoned in Venezuela after the strongman met in Caracas with President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Richard Grenell.

The visit came as a shock to many Venezuelans who hoped that Trump would continue the “maximum pressure” campaign he pursued against the authoritarian Venezuelan leader during his first term.

A State Department official said Venezuela must take back “Venezuelan criminals and gangs” and release American “hostages” immediately.