Governor Richardson traveled to Bogata, Colombia to meet with President Alvaro Uribe, and later to Caracas, Venezuela to meet with President Hugo Chavez to discuss the prospects for the release of three Americans being held hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The families of the three Americans asked Governor Richardson to assist in securing their release. During his trip to Bogata, the government of Colombia announced a new initiative to free numerous imprisoned rebels if FARC members would release former Presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who was seriously ill. In July 2008, the Colombian security forces initiated a rescue operation that led to the liberation of 15 hostages, including the three American contractors – Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell and Thomas Howes – and Betancourt.