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El Salvador President Proposes Prisoner Swap with Venezuela
In a controversial move, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has suggested a prisoner exchange with Venezuela, offering to send 252 Venezuelan nationals deported from the United States and currently held in El Salvadorian prisons back to Venezuela. In return, Bukele is seeking the release of individuals he describes as “political prisoners” incarcerated in Venezuela.
Bukele’s Exchange Proposal
President Bukele publicly requested Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday to release 252 individuals considered by Bukele to be “political prisoners.” This request forms the basis of his proposed exchange deal, intended to transfer Venezuelan detainees in El Salvador back to their home country.
Details of the Proposed Prisoner Transfer Remain Unclear
The Salvadoran leader has not clarified whether the Venezuelans deported from the U.S. and imprisoned in El Salvador would face re-incarceration in Venezuela should the prisoner swap materialize. This ambiguity raises questions about the ultimate fate of these individuals.
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Venezuela Denounces Proposal as “Cynical”
Venezuela’s Attorney General, Tarek William Saab, sharply criticized Bukele’s proposition, labeling it “cynical.” Saab’s office asserted that El Salvador is unlawfully detaining the 252 Venezuelans. He demanded transparency regarding the accusations against the detainees, questioning whether they have been formally charged, granted legal representation, or permitted contact with their families. In an official statement, Saab’s office denounced Bukele as “neofascist” and alleged that “the treatment of Venezuelans in the United States and El Salvador constitutes a grave violation of international human rights law and potentially a crime against humanity.”
Individuals Proposed for Release from Venezuela
Bukele’s proposal specifically names several individuals he wishes to see freed from Venezuelan custody. Those mentioned include:
- Roland Carreno, a journalist
- Rocio San Miguel, a human rights lawyer
- Corina Parisca de Machado, mother of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado
In addition to Venezuelans, Bukele indicated that approximately 50 detainees of other nationalities, including citizens of the United States, Germany, and France, are also included in the potential exchange.
US Official Praises Bukele’s Initiative
Adam Boehler, the U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, publicly praised Bukele’s initiative online. Boehler indicated that 10 American citizens are among those whose release is sought in the proposed exchange, signaling potential U.S. interest in the deal.
Formal Diplomatic Communication to Venezuela
President Bukele stated that El Salvador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will formally present the prisoner exchange proposal to the Venezuelan government through established diplomatic channels, initiating official communication regarding the matter.
Background: US Deportations and El Salvador Detention
In March, the prior U.S. administration deported at least 200 Venezuelan migrants from the United States to El Salvador. U.S. authorities accused these deportees of being affiliated with the Tren de Aragua criminal gang. The U.S. government is reportedly providing El Salvador with $6 million to finance the detention of these individuals at Cecot, El Salvador’s high-security terrorism confinement center.
Venezuela Disputes “Political Prisoner” Claims
The Venezuelan government maintains that it does not hold “political prisoners,” asserting that all incarcerated individuals have been convicted of legitimate criminal offenses. However, various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) contend that over 800 people are currently detained in Venezuela for politically motivated reasons, contradicting the government’s claims.
Denial of Gang Affiliations by Venezuelan Government and Families
The Venezuelan government has refuted allegations that the Venezuelans deported from the U.S. possess connections to criminal gangs. Lawyers and family members of the detained migrants have also asserted that these individuals have no ties to criminal organizations, further contesting the U.S. justification for deportation and detention.
US Supreme Court Intervention on Deportations
Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily halted efforts by the previous U.S. administration to deport another group of Venezuelan migrants alleged to have gang affiliations. This deportation attempt was based on a rarely invoked wartime law. The Supreme Court issued a temporary stay following an emergency intervention request by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Previous US Administration’s Deportation Stance
The prior U.S. administration had urged the Supreme Court to reject the ACLU’s appeal and permit the deportations to proceed. While White House officials at the time affirmed the president’s commitment to stringent immigration enforcement, they did not indicate whether the administration would disregard the Supreme Court’s temporary block on deportations.