Univision said on Monday that a news team led by its anchor Jorge Ramos was detained at the presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, while interviewing President Nicolas Maduro.

'They were interviewing @NicolasMaduro but he didn't like the questions. Their technical equipment was also confiscated,' the Spanish-language US television network tweeted.

Univision and the US Department of State had called on Maduro to release the journalists.

Univision said on Monday that a news team led by its anchor Jorge Ramos (right, before being detained) was detained at the presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, while interviewing President Nicolas Maduro (right)

'They were interviewing @NicolasMaduro but he didn't like the questions. Their technical equipment was also confiscated,' the Spanish-language US television network tweeted. Ramos (right) is seen before being detained on Monday

According to CNN, executives at Univision were able to find out what happened because 'Jorge managed to call us'.

But in the middle of their conversation, 'they took his phone away'.

Univision immediately contacted the US State Department.

'We insist on their immediate release; the world is watching,' tweeted Kimberly Breier, assistant secretary of state for western hemisphere affairs.

In response to Univision's claims, Venezuela's information minister Jorge Rodriguez tweeted that the government had in the past welcomed hundreds of journalists to the Miraflores presidential palace, but it did not support 'cheap shows'.

Univision later said their team had been released, but the Venezuelan government kept their camera equipment. The crew also lost the recording from the interview.

'Jorge Ramos and his team have been released and are on route to their hotel,' a tweet from Daniel Coronell, Univision's president of news, read.

Univision also shared a photo of Ramos on the phone in his hotel room.

Ramos' daughter, Paola, tweeted shortly after the incident that she had spoken to her father.

'He is safe. He told me that 15 mins into his interview, Maduro stopped him & then forced him & his team into a dark room for 2.5 hours,' her tweet read.

In response to Univision's claims, Venezuela's information minister Jorge Rodriguez tweeted that the government had in the past welcomed hundreds of journalists to the Miraflores presidential palace, but it did not support 'cheap shows'

Univision later said their team had been released, but the Venezuelan government kept their camera equipment

Trump spars with Univision reporter Ramos before his 'Make America Great Again Rally' at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa, in August 2015

The incident unfolded on the same day that US Vice President Mike Pence met with Juan Guaido in Bogota, Colombia.

Pence arrived in the Colombian capital for an emergency summit of regional leaders to discuss the deepening crisis and immediately met with Guaido, who the US and 50 other nations recognize as Venezuela's rightful leader.

The Trump administration on Monday announced new sanctions on allies of Maduro's as it struggles to find new ways to boost his opponent Guaido after an effort to deliver humanitarian aid to the economically devastated nation faltered amid strong resistance from security forces who remain loyal to the socialist leader.

In a speech to the group, Pence urged regional partners to freeze oil assets controlled by Maduro, transfer the proceeds to Guaido and restrict visas for Maduro's inner circle.

He said the US was imposing more sanctions on four pro-government governors, including a close Maduro ally who negotiated the release of an American in jail more than two years.

'It's time to do more,' said Pence. 'The day is coming soon when Venezuela's long nightmare will end, when Venezuela will once more be free, when her people will see a new birth of freedom, in a nation reborn to liberated.'

Pence's appearance before the Lima Group comes at an important crossroads for the coalition of 14 mostly conservative Latin American nations and Canada that has joined forces to pressure Maduro.

Venezuela was marred by clashes this weekend after the National Guard and police forces loyal to Maduro blocked trucks from crossing near the Brazilian and Colombian borders

Security forces on the borders with Colombia and Brazil fired tear gas and buckshot on activists waving Venezuelan flags while escorting trucks with emergency medical and food kits

Four people have been reported killed and at least 300 wounded, although only a few were hospitalized

A month after Guaido declared himself interim president at an outdoor rally, hopes that support for Maduro inside the military would quickly crumble have faded.

Venezuela was marred by clashes this weekend after the National Guard and police forces loyal to Maduro blocked trucks from crossing near the Brazilian and Colombian borders.

Security forces on the borders with Colombia and Brazil fired tear gas and buckshot on activists waving Venezuelan flags while escorting trucks with emergency medical and food kits.

Four people have been reported killed and at least 300 wounded, although only a few were hospitalized.

While Colombian authorities said more than 160 soldiers deserted their posts and sought refuge across the border over the weekend, the highest-ranking among them was a National Guard major.

No battalion or division commanders have come forward to challenge Maduro despite almost-daily calls by Guaido and the US to do so.

That's left many asking what Guaido and the US can do to break the stalemate.

For now, the US is showing no signs it is considering a military intervention to remove Maduro.