El Salvador Proposes Prisoner Swap with Venezuela in Controversial Deal
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has offered to repatriate 252 Venezuelan migrants deported from the U.S. and detained in his country—on the condition that Venezuela releases an equal number of political prisoners.
In a social media post directed at Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Sunday, Bukele framed the proposal as a "humanitarian agreement." He claimed many of the deported Venezuelans had been accused of serious crimes, including rape and murder, while Venezuelan political prisoners were jailed solely for opposing Maduro’s government.
Maduro’s disputed re-election last year has been widely criticized by international observers. His administration denies holding political prisoners, a claim rejected by human rights organizations.
Venezuela Rejects Proposal, Demands Legal Clarity
Venezuela’s chief prosecutor, Tarek William Saab, swiftly dismissed Bukele’s offer, demanding details on the charges against the detained Venezuelans and whether they had received due process, including legal representation and court hearings.
Bukele’s proposal also included nearly 50 prisoners of other nationalities, among them U.S. citizens. The Salvadoran leader did not clarify whether the exchanged detainees would face re-imprisonment after the swap.
The U.S. has recently deported more than 200 Venezuelans to El Salvador, where they are held in a high-security prison. The Trump administration alleges they are members of the Tren de Aragua criminal gang. Washington pays El Salvador to detain them in its Terrorism Confinement Center, a facility known for its harsh conditions.
Legal Challenges to U.S. Deportation Policy
The proposal comes amid escalating tensions over U.S. immigration enforcement. On Saturday, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked the deportation of another group of Venezuelans accused of gang ties, following a legal challenge by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
The Trump administration has defended its use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act—a rarely invoked law allowing the detention and deportation of citizens from "enemy" nations without standard legal procedures. Previously used only during wartime, its application in this case has drawn sharp criticism.
Maduro has condemned the deportations to El Salvador as "kidnapping" and a "massive abuse" of human rights. Meanwhile, Bukele—who jokingly refers to himself as "the world’s coolest dictator"—has gained domestic support for his aggressive anti-gang policies, securing re-election last year.
The White House has dismissed legal challenges to its deportation strategy as "meritless litigation." The standoff underscores the deepening complexities of migration policy and international diplomacy in the region.