The Trump administration announced on Friday plans to facilitate prisoner exchanges aimed at securing the release of ten U.S. citizens detained in Venezuela. In return, the U.S. is set to allow the repatriation of over 250 Venezuelan men currently imprisoned in El Salvador.
These Venezuelan men had spent several months in one of El Salvador’s most infamous prisons, known by the Spanish acronym Cecot. Their deportation earlier this year followed a controversial crackdown on what were deemed alien enemies by the Trump administration. It’s unclear what awaits them upon their return to Venezuela.
Interestingly, the Venezuelan government decided to release all U.S. residents held under the Maduro regime.
In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed, “It’s unacceptable that representatives of the Venezuelan administration have detained and imprisoned American citizens under dubious conditions. Venezuelan Americans are now free and have returned to their hometowns.”
Furthermore, the Trump administration condemned the deported Venezuelan men, who were categorized as members of the Tren de Aragua gang using seldom-invoked wartime powers, though the evidence for such claims appeared minimal.
Many of the accusations centered around tattoos, with some individuals having designs linked to the autism team and the national soccer team.
The United States reportedly agreed to compensate the Salvadoran government with millions to house these men.
“This operation resulted from extensive negotiations with a regime resistant to releasing hostages,” noted a tweet detailing the negotiations. “Thanks to the unwavering efforts of numerous officials from both the U.S. and El Salvador, and most importantly, the grace of God, this has come to fruition.”
In addition, the agreement allowed for the release of political prisoners in Venezuela, though neither U.S. nor Salvadoran representatives disclosed how many were freed or their future living arrangements.
“We also welcome the release of Venezuelan political prisoners and detainees from Venezuelan prisons… The practice of using unjust detention as a tool for political oppression must cease.”
developing
