The Trump administration has instructed federal prosecutors in Miami to avoid pursuing criminal investigations into Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez, according to current and former U.S. law enforcement officials. The directive appears aimed at avoiding disruption to the administration's efforts to stabilize Venezuela following the capture of former leader Nicolás Maduro.

A Justice Department spokesperson said "there was never an investigation into her to shut down," though DEA records obtained by The Associated Press show Rodríguez has appeared on federal law enforcement radar since at least 2018. She has surfaced in nearly a dozen DEA investigations involving offices from Paraguay and Ecuador to Phoenix and New York, though she has never been criminally charged in the U.S.

The move comes as U.S.-Venezuela relations have warmed significantly. The Trump administration has lifted sanctions against Rodríguez, recognized her as Venezuela's sole head of state, and allowed her to re-establish ties with Western banks. President Trump has praised Rodríguez as a "terrific person" and said she is "doing a great job" as oil begins flowing between the countries again.

Rodríguez took power after Maduro's ouster and was transported by U.S. military to New York to face federal narcotics charges. She has hosted ceremonies with American oil executives and met with delegations led by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. However, she has provided no clear timeline for holding elections, despite exceeding a 90-day limit set by Venezuela's high court.

Senate Democrats have criticized the administration's approach. Senator Jeanne Shaheen called Rodríguez "a central figure in Nicolás Maduro's repressive regime" and demanded explanation for lifting sanctions without concrete democratic reforms. The Trump administration has similarly paused federal investigations into Colombian President Gustavo Petro, another Latin American leftist leader who had been designated a DEA "priority target."

Former federal prosecutor Duncan Levin called it "deeply troubling" for law enforcement to stand down from legitimate investigations for political reasons, saying "the White House cannot use criminal enforcement as a diplomatic light switch." Justice Department policy requires the attorney general to personally approve charging any foreign head of state, who normally enjoy immunity under international law.