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Salvadoran President Suggests Prisoner Exchange with Venezuela
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador has proposed a prisoner swap with Venezuela, offering to exchange Venezuelan deportees held by his government for individuals he describes as “political prisoners” in Venezuela. The proposition, made public on Sunday, targets Venezuelan citizens deported from the United States and currently detained in El Salvador.
Bukele’s Proposal on Social Media
In a message directed to President Nicolás Maduro via the social media platform X, Bukele detailed his proposal. He listed family members of prominent Venezuelan opposition figures, journalists, and activists who were apprehended during the Venezuelan government’s crackdown on dissent last year. Bukele asserted that their imprisonment stemmed solely from their opposition to Maduro and alleged electoral fraud.
Humanitarian Agreement
“The sole reason for their confinement is their opposition to you and your fraudulent elections,” Bukele stated in his message to Maduro. He then outlined his proposal for a “humanitarian agreement.” This agreement involves the repatriation of all 252 Venezuelan deportees currently in Salvadoran custody in exchange for the release and transfer of an equal number of the “thousands of political prisoners” allegedly held by the Maduro regime.
Individuals Named in the Proposal
Bukele’s list included several high-profile individuals:
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- The son-in-law of Edmundo González, a former Venezuelan presidential candidate.
- Political leaders who have sought asylum within the Argentine embassy in Venezuela.
- Approximately 50 citizens from various countries around the globe, also reportedly detained.
- The mother of opposition leader María Corina Machado, whose residence Machado reported was surrounded by Venezuelan law enforcement in January.
Request for Diplomatic Engagement
President Bukele indicated that he would instruct El Salvador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish contact with the Venezuelan government to discuss the proposed exchange. As of yet, there has been no immediate public response from the Maduro administration.
Controversy Surrounding Deportations and Detention
This proposal emerges amidst escalating international criticism of El Salvador’s policy of detaining Venezuelan and Salvadoran deportees from the United States. The Trump administration had previously labeled these individuals as alleged gang affiliates, often with limited substantiating evidence. These deportees are incarcerated in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a “mega-prison” constructed by the Bukele government as part of its campaign against domestic gangs.
Case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia
Further controversy arose following revelations that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident married to a U.S. citizen and father, was among those deported and detained. Legal proceedings are underway to secure his return to the United States.
Archbishop’s Appeal
José Luis Escobar Alas, the Archbishop of El Salvador, voiced concerns on Sunday, urging President Bukele to prevent El Salvador from becoming “a large international prison.”
Bukele’s Rationale
Despite ongoing controversy, Bukele has maintained his stance, asserting that all individuals detained in the CECOT were “part of an operation against gangs such as Tren de Aragua in the United States.” He has presented this as justification for their continued imprisonment.