In a rare three-nation prisoner exchange, 252 Venezuelans deported from the U.S. and held in El Salvador’s CECOT prison were returned to Caracas on Friday, while Venezuela released 10 detained Americans. The agreement, brokered with the help of El Salvador, marks a significant diplomatic development amid legal controversy.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the Americans’ release and thanked Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele for facilitating the deal. The freed Venezuelans had been sent to El Salvador in March after former President Donald Trump used the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang without trial. Critics say the deportations violated due process, with many detainees denied court hearings and wrongly accused of gang ties.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro welcomed the returnees at Caracas airport, stating only seven had serious criminal records. All returnees are set to undergo medical checks before being released. Family members expressed relief, with some awaiting reunions from a distance due to ongoing processing by authorities.
The U.S. also secured the release of 80 Venezuelan political prisoners. While Venezuela described the move as “alternative detention measures,” NGOs confirmed several high-profile figures, including former opposition governor Williams Davila, were freed.
Additionally, seven Venezuelan children separated from their parents in the U.S. were reunited with their families.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently limited the Alien Enemies Act’s scope, ruling in May that deportees must receive proper legal notice and access to habeas corpus. The case has stirred debate over presidential powers and immigration law.
This complex exchange highlights the intertwining of immigration policy, international law, and political diplomacy, with significant human and legal ramifications still unfolding.