US Citizens Freed in Venezuela Prisoner Swap
El Salvador Facilitates Exchange of Americans for Detained Venezuelans
Ten American citizens have been released from Venezuela in a significant prisoner exchange brokered by El Salvador. The deal saw approximately 250 Venezuelan nationals, detained in El Salvador and described as gang members, repatriated to their home country.
Diplomatic Breakthrough
A senior U.S. administration official confirmed that with this release, no American citizens are currently held by the Venezuelan government. The operation marked a complex diplomatic effort, culminating in the departure of the Americans from Venezuelan airspace late Friday.
Hoy entregamos a todos los nacionales venezolanos detenidos en nuestro país, acusados de formar parte de la organización criminal Tren de Aragua (TDA). A cambio, recibimos a un número considerable de presos políticos venezolanos y a 10 ciudadanos estadounidenses.
Esto fue en el marco de un acuerdo humanitario.
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) June 28, 2024
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele announced the transfer on social media, stating that the Venezuelan detainees were accused of belonging to the criminal organization Tren de Aragua. He described the exchange as a “humanitarian agreement.” U.S. Secretary of State Marc Rubio acknowledged the deal, thanking both Bukele and U.S. officials involved.
Families Express Relief
While U.S. officials have not publicly identified the released Americans due to privacy concerns, CBS reported that one is former Navy Seal Wilbert Joseph Castaneda, who was detained in Venezuela last year. Meanwhile, families of the repatriated Venezuelans expressed joy.
“I’m so happy my heart is overflowing. I’m so thankful to God, to [Venezuelan] President Nicolas Maduro for fighting to free them, to the lawyers there in El Salvador.”
—Gertrudis Pineda, mother of detainee
Gertrudis Pineda, mother of detained tile and carpet fitter Oscar González Pineda, asserted her son has no ties to the Tren de Aragua gang. Her son was initially told he was being transferred to Texas but was instead sent to El Salvador’s notorious Centre for the Confinement of Terrorism (Cecot) prison.
Complex Negotiations
The Venezuelan migrants returned to their country had been deported from the U.S. earlier this year under the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy. A former Trump administration official described the deal as a last-minute success, highlighting the ongoing uncertainty in dealings with the Maduro government.
The exchange underscored the strong relationship between Salvadoran President Bukele and former U.S. President Donald Trump. Bukele previously proposed a swap of 252 Venezuelan deportees for an equal number of political prisoners held by President Maduro‘s administration.
While Venezuela’s government initially rejected that specific proposal, U.S. officials viewed it as a crucial opportunity. The U.S. maintains no official diplomatic ties with Venezuela and has imposed significant sanctions, which were not part of this prisoner exchange discussion.
The deportations to El Salvador have drawn scrutiny, including the case of Kilmar Ábrego García, who alleged severe mistreatment and torture after being mistakenly deported to Cecot. His case, which his family and lawyers deny any gang affiliation, was a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding such transfers.
