WASHINGTON — In a poignant moment during the 2026 Donald Trump State of the Union address, a Venezuelan political prisoner held for years in one of Caracas’s most notorious jails was reunited with his niece on the House chamber floor — a scene that drew thunderous applause from lawmakers and guests.

President Trump paused his speech Tuesday night to acknowledge Alejandra Gonzales, who was seated in the gallery, and announced that her uncle, Enrique Márquez, had been released from detention in Venezuela following political upheaval and was brought to the United States to join her in person.

Enrique Márquez hugs his niece Alejandra Gonzales during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Feb. 24, 2026.

From Caracas Prison to Capitol Hill

Márquez, 62, was reportedly imprisoned by the regime of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after running for political office in opposition to the government. He was held in what critics have described as one of the region’s most brutal detention facilities, often associated with repression of dissent.

President Trump told the chamber that the U.S. had successfully secured Márquez’s release and facilitated his travel to Washington, framing the reunion as a triumph for human rights and democratic change in Venezuela. As the niece and uncle embraced at the front of the House chamber, members of Congress rose to applaud.

A Symbolic Moment

The surprise reunion came amid broader political developments in Venezuela, where interim authorities have released hundreds of individuals previously detained on political grounds in recent weeks. Critics of Venezuela’s past government long decried the imprisonment of activists and opposition figures, while human rights groups have urged full and unconditional releases.

For Gonzales, the moment marked a profound personal victory. She had feared she might never see her uncle again after years of uncertainty about his fate, she told reporters after the event. The public ceremony underscored how individual stories of hardship can intersect with major geopolitical shifts.

Márquez was one of “hundreds of political prisoners” released after the US toppled ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime in January.

Ongoing Debate

While the emotional reunion captivated the audience, it also drew attention to continuing debates over political imprisonment in Venezuela and the pace of judicial and administrative reforms there. Human rights organizations have noted that even as some detainees are freed, many others remain behind bars under restrictive conditions.

The event served both as a human interest highlight during a major national address and as a reminder of the broader challenges faced by political prisoners and their families around the world. The White House and State Department have not yet disclosed further details about the arrangements that led to Márquez’s release.