Nayib Bukele Proposes Humanitarian Prisoner Swap with Venezuela

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has proposed a prisoner exchange with Venezuela, offering to repatriate 252 deported Venezuelans in exchange for 252 political prisoners held by Venezuela. The proposal raises concerns regarding El Salvador’s treatment of deportees amid international scrutiny and has drawn calls from local leaders to avoid turning the country into an “international prison.”

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has proposed a prisoner exchange with Venezuela, aimed at returning Venezuelan nationals deported from the United States in exchange for what he refers to as “political prisoners” currently held by the Venezuelan government. In a recent post on the social media platform X, Bukele specifically addressed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, emphasizing the plight of several individuals, including family members of opposition figures and activists detained amid the Venezuelan government’s electoral austerity last year.

In his message, Bukele condemned the detentions, attributing them to political opposition against Maduro’s regime. He suggested a humanitarian pact that would enable the repatriation of all 252 Venezuelans deported to El Salvador. In exchange, Bukele proposed the release and handover of an equivalent number of political detainees from Venezuela, whom he alleges are being unjustly imprisoned.

Among the names Bukele mentioned were those related to Edmundo González, a former presidential candidate, and several political asylum seekers currently sheltered in the Argentine embassy in Venezuela. He reiterated the inclusion of opposition leader María Corina Machado’s mother, alluding to her arrest earlier this year.

Bukele announced intentions for El Salvador’s foreign ministry to engage in negotiations with the Maduro administration, which has not yet responded to his proposal. This initiative arises amidst scrutiny regarding El Salvador’s handling of deportees from the Trump era, accused of gang affiliation with little substantiation. Those deportees have been held in a “mega-prison,” the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), established to combat gang violence in the nation.

The situation has intensified following revelations that an American citizen was among those deported, prompting intense legal disputes concerning his repatriation. Furthermore, El Salvador’s Archbishop José Luis Escobar Alas urged the President to refrain from making the country an “international prison.” Despite ongoing controversies, Bukele defended the detention of individuals in CECOT, asserting this measure as part of a broader strategy against gangs such as the Tren de Aragua operating in the U.S.

In summary, President Nayib Bukele’s proposal for a prisoner swap with Venezuela seeks to address the deportation of Venezuelan nationals while advocating for the release of political prisoners. This initiative reflects ongoing international scrutiny regarding El Salvador’s immigration practices and treatment of deportees. By framing the proposed exchange as a humanitarian effort, Bukele is navigating complex political dynamics, both domestically and internationally.

Original Source: www.haltonhillstoday.ca