In a bold move, President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador has suggested a prisoner swap with Venezuela, aiming to repatriate 252 Venezuelans recently deported by the U.S. in exchange for the release of an equal number of political prisoners held by Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Bukele highlighted that many deported individuals have been accused of serious crimes like "rape and murder," while the political prisoners are believed to be jailed for opposing Maduro's leadership.
In a recent social media post, Bukele addressed Maduro directly, proposing a humanitarian agreement. He stated, "I want to propose you a humanitarian agreement calling for the repatriation of 100% of the 252 Venezuelans who were deported, in exchange for the release... of the identical number from among the thousands of political prisoners that you hold.” He also mentioned the potential inclusion of approximately 50 prisoners from other nationalities in this deal, which sets the stage for a significant diplomatic exchange.
However, Venezuela's chief prosecutor, Tarek William Saab, criticized Bukele’s offer, questioning the nature of the crimes of those deported and raising concerns over their legal rights. The Venezuelan government has denied the existence of political prisoners, a statement that human rights organizations strongly dispute.
The U.S. has been sending over 200 alleged gang members from Venezuela to El Salvador under the Trump administration, employing the controversial 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which allows for the deportation of individuals from nations deemed hostile. This law, utilized sparingly in the past, has attracted legal challenges, with recent Supreme Court decisions halting some deportations.
Maduro has condemned the U.S. policies as a violation of human rights and referred to the deportation process as "kidnapping." As the dynamics between these nations continue to evolve, the proposed prisoner swap opens a new chapter in their complex relationship amidst ongoing issues of political and social unrest.
