El Salvador’s President Offers a Diplomatic Prisoner Exchange with Venezuela

A recent development from San Salvador highlights President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador proposing a significant prisoner exchange involving Venezuelans deported by the U.S.

On a recent Sunday, President Bukele suggested a humanitarian exchange where El Salvador would send back 252 Venezuelan nationals who had been deported by the United States. In return, he called upon President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela to set free the same number of political detainees, some of whom play important roles in the opposition.

President Bukele communicated his proposition directly to President Maduro via X, outlining his willingness to send back all deported Venezuelans under the condition that Venezuela liberates an equivalent number of their political prisoners.

Since March, the U.S. has been deporting individuals with alleged connections to the gangs Tren de Aragua and MS-13 to El Salvador, where President Bukele has consented to temporarily hold these individuals in return for compensation.

The initial transportations to El Salvador included 238 Venezuelans. President Maduro responded strongly against these detentions, criticizing El Salvador for what he described as complicity in the unlawful seizure of these citizens.

Among the detainees whose freedom President Bukele seeks in Venezuela are several figures detained during a significant crackdown last year under Maduro's regime.

In addition to seeking the release of Venezuelan political prisoners, President Bukele's offer includes a demand for the release of nearly 50 foreign nationals in Venezuela, among whom are American citizens.

According to Foro Penal, a Venezuelan advocacy group, the number of people wrongfully imprisoned in Venezuela currently surpasses past figures, with about 900 political prisoners held by the Maduro government.

President Maduro’s perseverance in detaining political adversaries comes amidst growing challenges both domestically and internationally. He aims to strengthen his bargaining position, especially concerning U.S. sanctions.

President Bukele emphatically addressed Maduro in his statement saying that unlike Venezuela, El Salvador does not hold political prisoners. The Venezuelans were detained due to their alleged ties to criminal organizations.

President Bukele closed his message with a promise to formalize this proposal through official channels and extended a blessing to the Venezuelan people.

By Sunday night, the Venezuelan government had not yet issued a public reply to Bukele’s diplomatic overture.

Contributors

Reports had seen contributions from Julie Turkewitz in Bogotá, Colombia, and Isayen Herrera in Caracas, Venezuela, while Annie Correal provided insights from the United States and Latin America.