In a notable initiative, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has proposed a prisoner swap with Venezuela, offering to repatriate 252 Venezuelan migrants deported by the United States in exchange for political prisoners held by President Nicolás Maduro’s regime. This proposal was shared via a public message on social media, where Bukele directly accused Maduro of unjustly imprisoning thousands for political reasons.
President Bukele remarked, “I propose a humanitarian agreement for the repatriation of all 252 Venezuelans who were deported, in return for the release of the same number of political prisoners you currently hold.” He pointed out that many inmates in El Salvador’s high-security prisons are linked to violent criminal groups, while the Venezuelan detainees are imprisoned solely for opposing the government.
In response, the Venezuelan government has dismissed allegations of political imprisonment, describing the deportations as “kidnappings” orchestrated by the United States. Tarek William Saab, Venezuela’s attorney general, has demanded comprehensive documentation regarding the deportees, citing human rights abuses within El Salvador’s prison system.
Among the political figures Bukele aims to secure the release of are prominent individuals such as Rafael Tudares, Corina Parisca de Machado, and journalist Roland Carreño, all of whom have been labeled as terrorists by Maduro’s administration. The proposal also includes nearly 50 foreign detainees in Venezuela, including American nationals.
This negotiation is set against the backdrop of recent deportations of Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act by the Trump administration, which has led to legal challenges against further deportations. Despite facing criticism regarding human rights conditions under his administration, Bukele continues to enjoy significant popularity in Latin America.
