Caracas ( CNN ) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Saturday an unspecified number of Americans were arrested `` a few days ago '' for engaging in espionage and recruitment activities . The President said they included an American pilot of Latin American origin , arrested in the southwest border state of Táchira . He said the pilot was found in possession of `` all kinds of documents '' and was being interrogated by the authorities , though he did not identify him . The Venezuelan government has made many similar claims in recent years , without ever substantiating them . Maduro also announced Saturday a series of measures , including visa requirements for U.S. citizens and the downsizing of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas , to counteract what he called U.S. `` interference '' in his country . Venezuela has in recent weeks accused the United States of being behind an alleged coup plot . Speaking at an `` anti-imperialist '' rally in the capital , Maduro said visas would now be required for all U.S. visitors and that the U.S. Embassy in Caracas would now need foreign ministry approval for any meetings . The Embassy , which he said had more than 100 staff , is to be reduced to a number closer to the 17 Venezuelan diplomats based in Washington . Moreover , a group of prominent U.S. officials , current and retired , will be banned from entering Venezuela because of what Maduro said was their involvement in `` bombing Iraq , Syria and Vietnam '' and other `` terrorist '' actions . The officials include George W. Bush , former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney , former CIA Director George Tenet and several current members of Congress , including Ileana Ros-Lehtinen , Bob Menendez and Mario Diaz-Balart . Following the Maduro 's announcement Diaz-Balart reacted via Twitter , saying he has `` always wanted to travel to a corrupt country that is not a free democracy . And now Castro 's lap dog wo n't let me ! '' The move comes after the U.S. government last month approved a law under which Venezuelan officials allegedly involved in human rights violations are to have their visas revoked and their U.S. assets frozen . A relatively small , but noisy crowd , dressed mostly in revolutionary red , applauded and cheered the measures announced by the President from a platform outside the presidential palace in downtown Caracas . Four missionaries from Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Devils Lake , North Dakota were released by Venezuelan authorities on Saturday , a church official said . Pastor Bruce Dick said the missionaries arrived in Venezuela on February 20 and were detained a few days ago . `` We love the Venezuelan people and have served alongside them for over 12 years , '' Dick said . `` We have been praying along with hundreds or thousands of others for their release and for those in Venezuela who also have been affected by this . '' It is unclear if the detention and release of these Americans is connected to Maduro 's charges of espionage . Journalist Phil Gunson reported from Caracas . CNN 's Juan Carlos Lopez , Florencia Trucco and Janet DiGiacomo contributed to this report .
Four Americans missionaries were released Saturday after being detained a few days ago . Not clear if this is related to detained Americans mentioned by Venezuelan President Maduro . Comment: Venezuela will now require Americans to get a visa to visit .