El Salvador Proposes Venezuela Prisoner Swap Involving US Deportees
Keywords: El Salvador Venezuela prisoner swap, US deportees deal, Nayib Bukele diplomacy, Venezuela-US relations, Central America migration
El Salvador’s government, led by President Nayib Bukele, has reportedly offered Venezuela a prisoner exchange deal that could include Venezuelan nationals deported from the United States. The unusual proposal highlights shifting diplomatic dynamics in Latin America amid rising migration pressures.
Key Details of the Proposal:
- El Salvador’s Offer: Swap Salvadoran prisoners held in Venezuela for Venezuelan deportees sent back from the U.S.
- US Involvement: Some deportees may be Venezuelan migrants detained at the US-Mexico border.
- Motivation: Bukele seeks to repatriate Salvadoran citizens while easing Venezuela’s migrant crisis.
Why This Matters:
- Diplomatic Shift: Rare engagement between US-aligned El Salvador and Venezuela’s Maduro regime.
- Migration Pressures: The US faces record Venezuelan migration, complicating deportation policies.
- Bukele’s Strategy: Strengthens his image as a regional dealmaker amid domestic crackdowns.
Challenges & Controversies:
- Legal Hurdles: US may oppose involving deportees in foreign swaps.
- Human Rights Concerns: Venezuela’s prisons are notoriously harsh.
- Political Risks: Deal could legitimize Maduro’s government internationally.
What’s Next?
- Venezuela has not yet officially responded.
- The US may push for alternative deportation solutions.
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has proposed a prisoner exchange to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro: repatriating 252 Venezuelans deported from the U.S. and currently imprisoned in El Salvador in exchange for the release of an equal number of political prisoners held in Venezuela. Among those Bukele seeks to free are journalist Roland Carreño, human rights lawyer Rocío San Miguel, and Corina Parisca de Machado. lasvegassun.com+3Reuters+3AP News+3
The Venezuelan government has condemned the proposal, labeling it “cynical” and accusing Bukele of crimes against humanity for detaining deportees in El Salvador’s mega-prison, CECOT. Human rights organizations have criticized the U.S. and El Salvador for subjecting over 200 Venezuelan nationals to enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention. Davis Vanguard+4AP News+4The Express Tribune+4Human Rights Watch
This proposal adds to the controversy surrounding the U.S. deportation of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law. Critics argue that many deportees have no proven ties to criminal organizations. Latest news & breaking headlinesReuters+1El Salvador Now+1
🔗 External Links:
- AP News – Salvadoran President Bukele proposes prisoner swap with Maduro for Venezuelan deportees
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Reuters – El Salvador proposes swapping US-deported Venezuelans for Venezuelan ‘political prisoners’