The government of Nayib Bukele delivered this Friday to the Maduro regime 252 Venezuelans deported from the United States in exchange for an undisclosed number of political prisoners and 10 American citizens.
The detainees, held at the Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot), were accused of belonging to the criminal gang Tren de Aragua.
“As offered to the Venezuelan regime in April, we made this exchange for a significant number of Venezuelan political prisoners, individuals that this regime had kept in its prisons for years, as well as all the American citizens it held as hostages,” Bukele said on X.
"This operation is the result of months of negotiations with a tyrannical regime that had long refused to release one of its most valuable bargaining chips: its hostages. However, thanks to the tireless efforts of many officials from both the United States and El Salvador, and above all, thanks to Almighty God, it was achieved," added the president, who included a video of the release.
For its part, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry confirmed the operation without disclosing how many political prisoners were included in the exchange and assured that Maduro never hesitated to carry out the swap.
Likewise, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the exchange occurred thanks to “the leadership and commitment of President Trump to the American people.”
"Until today, there were more Americans unjustly detained in Venezuela than in any other country in the world (...) under very questionable circumstances and without due process," he added.
Rubio thanked the Salvadoran president for "ensuring these long-awaited releases and his efforts to guarantee the safety of American citizens both at home and abroad."
Offer of the exchange
In April, Bukele made a direct proposal to the Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, offering to repatriate the 252 Venezuelans detained in his country in exchange for the release of an equivalent number of political prisoners in Venezuela.
Through a message posted on his account on the social network X, Bukele put forward what he termed a “humanitarian agreement” that would allow for the release of individuals imprisoned solely for political reasons, including journalists, activists, family members of opponents, and four asylum seekers at the Argentine embassy in Caracas.
"You want the Venezuelans back. I want justice for the political prisoners."
"Mr. Nicolás Maduro, you have stated on numerous occasions that you want Venezuelans back and free," wrote Bukele, before pointing out the differences in the reasons for detention in both countries.
The Salvadoran president clarified that the Venezuelans in custody in El Salvador were detained as part of operations against organized crime (in the United States), specifically against structures like the Tren de Aragua, and that they are not political prisoners.
On the contrary, he accused Maduro of keeping peaceful opponents in prison, whose only crime has been standing against the regime and its electoral frauds.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Prisoner Exchange between El Salvador and Venezuela
What exchange did El Salvador make with Venezuela?
El Salvador handed over 252 Venezuelans accused of belonging to the Tren de Aragua in exchange for an undetermined number of political prisoners and 10 U.S. citizens who were detained in Venezuela. This exchange was the result of negotiations between both governments and aimed to secure the release of individuals imprisoned for political reasons in Venezuela.
Who were the Venezuelans handed over by El Salvador?
The Venezuelans handed over by El Salvador were accused of belonging to the criminal organization Tren de Aragua. Many of them faced charges of murder, robbery, rape, and other serious crimes. These individuals had been detained as part of operations against organized crime in the United States and were transferred to the Counter-Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador before being handed over to Venezuela.
What does the humanitarian agreement proposed by Bukele imply?
The humanitarian agreement proposed by Bukele aimed to release Venezuelan political prisoners in exchange for the repatriation of Venezuelans detained in El Salvador. Bukele offered this direct exchange to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, highlighting the differences in the reasons for detention in both countries: while El Salvador detains criminals, Venezuela incarcerates political opponents.
What was the role of the United States in this exchange?
The United States played a key role in the negotiations to secure the release of its citizens. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized President Trump's leadership in the process and thanked Bukele for his commitment to ensuring the safety of the Americans detained in Venezuela. At the time of the exchange, more Americans were detained in Venezuela than in any other country in the world.
What is the Tren de Aragua?
The Aragua Train is a Venezuelan criminal organization, originally formed in the Tocorón prison in 2014. It is linked to a series of serious crimes, including murders, kidnappings, robberies, drug trafficking, prostitution, extortion, and human trafficking. Its influence has spread to several countries in Latin America and has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States government.
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