El Salvador proposes prisoner swap with Venezuela for political detainees
In a significant proposal, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has suggested a prisoner exchange with Venezuela, wherein he would repatriate 252 Venezuelan migrants who were deported by the United States in return for political prisoners detained by President Nicolás Maduro's administration. This proposition was communicated through a public message on social media, directly addressing Maduro, wherein Bukele accused him of unjustly imprisoning thousands on political grounds.
President Bukele stated, "I want to propose a humanitarian agreement calling for the repatriation of 100% of the 252 Venezuelans who were deported, in exchange for the release of the identical number from among the thousands of political prisoners that you hold." He emphasized that many detainees in El Salvador's high-security facilities are affiliated with violent criminal organizations, whereas the Venezuelan prisoners are solely incarcerated for their opposition to the government.
The Venezuelan government, however, has rejected claims regarding political imprisonment, labeling the deportations as "kidnappings" orchestrated by the United States. Tarek William Saab, Venezuela’s attorney general, has requested detailed documentation about the deportees, citing human rights violations occurring within El Salvador's prison system.
Among the political figures President Bukele seeks to release are notable individuals such as Rafael Tudares, Corina Parisca de Machado, and journalist Roland Carreño, all of whom have been categorized as terrorists by Maduro’s government. The proposal additionally encompasses nearly 50 foreign detainees in Venezuela, including American citizens.
The context for this negotiation arises against the backdrop of recent deportations of Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act by the Trump administration, leading to legal challenges against further deportations. Although Bukele has faced criticism for his administration's human rights conditions, he remains a popular figure in Latin America, having secured re-election in a decisive victory last year.
