Post by : Meena Ariff

El Salvador has sent around 250 Venezuelans back to their country in exchange for the release of 10 Americans who were being held in Venezuela. This prisoner exchange was announced by both the US and El Salvador governments on Friday.

These Venezuelans were not ordinary travellers. They were migrants who had been deported from the United States earlier this year and then put in El Salvador’s most feared prison, called the Centre for the Confinement of Terrorism, or Cecot. Cecot is known for its strict security and harsh conditions. The migrants are scheduled to arrive in Maiquetía, Venezuela, later on Friday.

Why Were These People In Prison?

Many of the Venezuelans sent back were accused by El Salvador’s government of being members of a dangerous criminal group called Tren de Aragua, often shortened as TDA. However, some families of these migrants have always said that their loved ones had no connection to the gang and were wrongly imprisoned.

For example, one of the Venezuelans released was Oscar González Pineda. His mother, Gertrudis, who lives in western Venezuela, felt overjoyed when she heard the news. She said, “I’m so happy my heart is overflowing. I thank God, President Maduro, and the lawyers in El Salvador for fighting to free them.”

Oscar was working as a tile and carpet fitter in the United States when he was suddenly detained by immigration officers in Dallas. At first, he thought he was just being taken to a detention centre in Texas. But later, he was put on a plane with others and deported to El Salvador. There, he was placed in Cecot prison along with 251 other Venezuelans.

What Was The Deal?

The President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, confirmed the exchange on Friday. He posted online, saying, “Today, we have handed over all the Venezuelan nationals detained in our country, accused of being part of the criminal organisation Tren de Aragua.” He said the swap was done in exchange for a good number of Venezuelan political prisoners, as well as the 10 American citizens.

A senior official from the US government said that after this exchange, there are no more US citizens held by the Venezuelan government under President Nicolas Maduro. This official said that the deal was very complicated and only finalised when the plane carrying the US citizens left Venezuelan airspace safely.

The US government has not named the Americans released because of privacy concerns. However, it was reported that one of them was Wilbert Joseph Castaneda, a former Navy SEAL. He was detained in Venezuela last year while on a personal trip.

Why Were The Venezuelans In El Salvador?

These Venezuelans were originally deported under a law called the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. This law gives a US president the power to detain and deport people from countries that are seen as enemies without going through the normal legal process.

During the Trump administration, these Venezuelans were deported to El Salvador earlier this year. Some of them and their families say they had nothing to do with any gang. A senior official from the Trump administration said El Salvador made an “independent decision” to release the Venezuelans for humanitarian reasons, even though the country considered them to be gang members.

What About The Relationship Between El Salvador and the US?

The relationship between President Bukele and former US President Donald Trump has become stronger in recent months. President Bukele had agreed to detain migrants deported by the US, which made Trump happy. Trump once said Bukele was “really helping out” the US by doing this. Bukele replied that El Salvador was “very eager to help.”

Earlier this year, President Bukele visited Trump at the White House. They were seen laughing, joking, and looking very friendly with each other in front of reporters.

What Was Bukele’s Earlier Proposal?

President Bukele had earlier suggested a bigger swap deal. He offered to return all 252 Venezuelans who were deported to El Salvador in exchange for 252 political prisoners in Venezuela. These political prisoners included family members of opposition leaders, journalists, and activists who were arrested during Venezuela’s election crackdowns in 2024.

Bukele wrote to President Maduro of Venezuela, saying, “The only reason they are imprisoned is for having opposed you and your electoral fraud.” He proposed a humanitarian deal to release the same number of political prisoners as Venezuelan migrants he would return. However, Venezuela rejected this proposal at that time.

Even though that deal did not work out, US officials said they saw it as a “critical opportunity” to get their citizens back.

Was There Any Discussion About Sanctions?

The US currently does not have any official diplomatic relationship with Venezuela. The US has put strong sanctions on the Venezuelan government. But officials said that removing these sanctions was not part of the conversation about this prisoner swap. The deal focused only on getting the US nationals released.

Are There Still Political Prisoners In Venezuela?

Yes, even though this deal brought back 10 Americans, the Trump administration says it is still working hard to get dozens of other political prisoners released from Venezuela. These prisoners include journalists, activists, and people who have spoken against President Maduro’s government.

What Happened In Another Deportation Case?

Earlier this year, there was a sad case involving a man named Kilmar Ábrego García. He was from Maryland in the US, but was mistakenly deported to El Salvador. When he arrived there, he said he was beaten badly and tortured while being kept in the Cecot prison.

The Trump administration had claimed that Kilmar was part of a dangerous Salvadoran gang called MS-13. But his family and lawyers strongly denied these claims. Later, Kilmar was brought back to the United States in July to face human trafficking charges. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

Why Is This Story Important?

This prisoner swap is important for many reasons. First, it shows how countries can negotiate complicated deals to bring their citizens back home. Second, it shows the strong friendship between President Bukele and Donald Trump. Third, it highlights the problems faced by migrants who are deported without clear reasons and how their families suffer.

Also, the case shows how politics, power, and law mix together when countries try to solve international problems. For the families of the 250 Venezuelans, this swap has brought hope and happiness as they wait to reunite with their loved ones after months of fear and worry.

What’s Next?

For now, the Venezuelans are on their way home, and the 10 Americans are safe and returning to their families. But many questions remain about the fairness of deportations, the conditions in prisons like Cecot, and the fate of other political prisoners still held in Venezuela.

The world will continue to watch what happens next in the relationship between El Salvador, Venezuela, and the United States, as leaders work behind the scenes to settle the many difficult issues that affect the lives of ordinary people.