Migrants deported to El Salvador’s CECOT prison sent to Venezuela in prisoner swap, Bukele says
Venezuelan Migrants Deported to El Salvador in Prisoner Swap with Americans
In a surprising turn of events, more than 200 Venezuelan migrants who were deported by the Trump administration to El Salvador’s mega-prison in March have now been sent to Venezuela as part of a prisoner swap. This exchange also involved the release of 10 Americans held in Venezuela, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough.
According to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, every wrongfully detained American in Venezuela has been freed and safely returned to the United States. Additionally, the deal included the release of Venezuelan political prisoners and detainees who were held by the government of President Nicolas Maduro.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele confirmed the return of the Venezuelan migrants who were detained in the notorious CECOT prison. In a statement, Bukele expressed that the exchange was carried out in return for the release of Venezuelan political prisoners and American citizens who were being held hostage by the Venezuelan regime.
While it remains unclear whether the deportees have arrived in Venezuela, a video shared by Bukele shows them boarding a plane, presumably heading to their home country.
The Venezuelan government has confirmed the release of 252 prisoners from CECOT, marking a significant step towards resolving the diplomatic tensions between the countries.
The Venezuelan migrants were initially sent to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime authority invoked by the Trump administration to remove noncitizens without due process. The deportation was based on allegations of ties to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which was deemed a threat to the United States.
Despite claims of gang affiliation, many families and attorneys of the Venezuelans denied any criminal involvement. An official from Immigration and Customs Enforcement also stated that most of the deportees did not have criminal records in the U.S., raising questions about the justification for their deportation.
The migrants were housed in CECOT as part of a controversial $6 million deal between the Trump administration and El Salvador. However, efforts to return the migrants were complicated by jurisdictional issues between the two countries.
With the successful exchange and repatriation of the Venezuelan migrants, a significant chapter in this diplomatic saga has come to a close. The resolution of this complex situation highlights the importance of international cooperation and diplomacy in addressing migration and human rights issues.
This article was written with contributions from ABC News’ Shannon Kingston and Aicha Elhammar.
