President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador proposed swapping 252 Venezuelans deported from the US for political prisoners held in Venezuela on Sunday. In a post on X, he asked President Nicolás Maduro to release these 252 political prisoners. However, Bukele did not clarify whether the swapped prisoners would be re-imprisoned after the exchange.
Details of the Proposal
Bukele specifically named several individuals for release, including journalist Roland Carreno, human rights lawyer Rocio San Miguel, and Corina Parisca de Machado, the mother of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who has reportedly faced regular threats at her home. In addition, Bukele identified about 50 other prisoners from various countries, including the US, Germany, and France. Among these were 10 Americans, which was highlighted by Adam Boehler, the US special envoy for hostage response. He praised Bukele’s initiative in a post on X.
Formal Proposal to Venezuela
In response, Bukele stated that El Salvador’s Foreign Ministry would formally present the proposal to the Venezuelan government through diplomatic channels. This move sets the stage for official negotiations.
US Deportations to El Salvador
The suggestion comes after the Trump administration deported 200 Venezuelans from the US to El Salvador, accusing them of ties to the Tren de Aragua criminal gang. El Salvador is receiving $6 million to hold these detainees in its high-security Terrorism Confinement Center. This deal has raised questions about the treatment and charges against the deported migrants.
Venezuela’s Denial
While the Venezuelan government maintains that it has no political prisoners, claiming that all imprisoned individuals are criminals, human rights organizations argue otherwise. According to these organizations, more than 800 people are detained for political reasons. Moreover, Venezuela continues to deny any links between the deported Venezuelans and gangs. Lawyers and family members of the detainees also assert that the migrants have no criminal affiliations.
US Supreme Court Ruling
In another development, the US Supreme Court temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting more Venezuelans accused of gang ties. This ruling came after the American Civil Liberties Union filed an emergency petition. The White House, however, reiterated President Trump’s commitment to his immigration policies, without providing further details about the next steps following the court’s decision.
