SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador has proposed a prisoner swap with Venezuela, suggesting that he would exchange Venezuelan deportees from the United States, currently held in El Salvador, for what he labels "political prisoners" in Venezuela. This proposal was made public on Sunday via a post on the social media platform X, addressing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Bukele's proposal includes the repatriation of all 252 Venezuelans deported from the U.S. in exchange for the release of an equivalent number of political prisoners detained in Venezuela. In his communication, Bukele cited several individuals, including family members of high-level opposition figures, journalists, and activists arrested during the Venezuelan government's crackdown on electoral dissent last year.
Among those named by Bukele were the son-in-law of former Venezuelan presidential candidate Edmundo González and numerous political leaders who sought asylum in the Argentine embassy in Venezuela. Bukele also referred to assorted detained citizens from multiple countries, which included the mother of opposition leader María Corina Machado, who experienced police action surrounding her home in January.
The Salvadoran president expressed his intention to contact El Salvador's foreign ministry to facilitate discussions with the Maduro government. However, the Venezuelan prosecutor’s office responded harshly, labeling Bukele’s statements as “cynical” and branding him a “neofascist.” They demanded a detailed list from Bukele's government concerning the Venezuelan detainees, along with their legal status and medical reports.
The prosecutor's office also emphasized that the treatment of Venezuelans in both the United States and El Salvador constitutes serious violations of international human rights laws, suggesting that these actions may amount to crimes against humanity.
This proposal for a prisoner exchange comes amidst growing scrutiny over El Salvador's policies, particularly concerning the deportation of Venezuelans and Salvadorans under the Trump administration. Allegations surfaced regarding the wrongful detention of individuals, including Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported and is married to a U.S. citizen. Despite a Supreme Court order for his return, his reintegration remains uncertain.
The situation has prompted local concerns, with El Salvador's archbishop, José Luis Escobar Alas, urging Bukele not to let the country become "a big international prison." Bukele, however, defends his government's actions, arguing that those imprisoned are part of operations against gangs such as the Tren de Aragua, which he claims have also impacted the United States.
This complex diplomatic proposal between El Salvador and Venezuela continues to evolve amid criticisms and the overarching backdrop of international human rights discussions.
