San Salvador, El Salvador – President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador has made a bold offer to repatriate 252 Venezuelans who were deported by the US and are currently imprisoned in his country. However, there is a condition attached to this offer – Bukele has stated that he will only proceed with the repatriation if Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro agrees to release an equal number of political prisoners in exchange. This proposal was shared by Bukele directly to Maduro on social media, sparking a potential humanitarian agreement between the two nations.
Bukele claims that many of the deported Venezuelans had committed serious crimes such as rape and murder, while the political prisoners in Venezuela are simply being held captive for opposing Maduro. The Venezuelan government denies having any political prisoners, a statement that has been disputed by various human rights organizations. Bukele’s proposal suggests a one-for-one exchange, involving both Venezuelan political prisoners and prisoners of other nationalities, including US citizens.
In recent weeks, the US has deported over 200 Venezuelans to El Salvador, under the accusations of being associated with the Tren de Aragua criminal gang. These individuals are being detained in El Salvador’s notorious high-security Terrorism Confinement Center, with the US government paying for their incarceration. Bukele, who describes himself as “the world’s coolest dictator,” won re-election last year on a platform that included a tough stance against gangs.
Maduro has strongly criticized the US for deporting Venezuelans to El Salvador, condemning it as a violation of human rights. The Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies have faced legal challenges, with the latest ruling from the US Supreme Court ordering a halt to the deportation of more alleged Venezuelan gang members under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. This act allows the president to detain and deport individuals from “enemy” nations without following standard procedures, a power that has been rarely exercised in the past.
The dynamics between the US, El Salvador, and Venezuela continue to evolve as Bukele’s offer introduces a new layer of potential cooperation between the nations. The fate of the deported Venezuelans, along with the political prisoners in Venezuela, hangs in the balance as discussions between Bukele and Maduro unfold. As the international community watches closely, the outcome of this negotiation could have significant implications for the individuals involved and the diplomatic relations between these countries.