El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has proposed a deal with Venezuela. He wants to exchange 252 Venezuelans deported by the United States for political prisoners held in Venezuela. Bukele announced the idea on Sunday, April 20, through a post on X (formerly Twitter). He urged Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to release political prisoners in exchange for the deportees. The proposal has sparked criticism and raised concerns about its legality.
El Salvador’s Proposal:
Bukele’s proposal involves sending 252 Venezuelans deported from the US back to Venezuela. In exchange, Venezuela would release political prisoners. Among those Bukele mentioned were journalist Roland Carreno, human rights lawyer Rocio San Miguel, and Corina Parisca de Machado, mother of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Bukele claimed these individuals face daily threats in Venezuela.
He did not specify whether the Venezuelans in El Salvador would face re-incarceration as part of the exchange. Bukele also mentioned 50 other detainees, including Americans, Germans, and French citizens.
Venezuela’s Response:
Venezuela quickly criticized the proposal. Tarek William Saab, the country’s chief prosecutor, called it “illegal.” He accused El Salvador of unlawfully detaining 252 Venezuelans. Saab questioned whether these detainees had faced charges, had access to legal counsel, or could contact their families.
The Venezuelan government denies holding political prisoners, saying that those in custody have been convicted of crimes. However, human rights organizations claim that over 800 people are jailed for political reasons.
US Reactions:
The proposal also drew attention from the United States. Adam Boehler, the US special envoy for hostage response, praised the idea. He noted that 10 Americans were among the 50 detainees proposed for exchange. However, concerns about the legality of the deal remain.
Last month, the US deported around 200 Venezuelans, accusing them of being members of the Tren de Aragua criminal gang. The US has paid El Salvador $6 million to detain these individuals in its high-security Terrorism Confinement Center.
Legal and Humanitarian Concerns:
The legal status of the detainees is unclear. While Venezuela denies holding political prisoners, human rights groups argue that many of the detained individuals are imprisoned for political reasons. El Salvador’s prison system, especially the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), has faced criticism. Saab called it a “place of forced disappearance” for innocent Venezuelans. He also promised to request a list of detainees, their legal status, and medical reports from El Salvador.
The US Supreme Court recently intervened in a case involving Venezuelan migrants facing deportation. It temporarily halted their removal under a wartime law after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed an emergency appeal.
