El Salvador suggests exchanging Venezuelan ‘political prisoners’ for Venezuelans deported by the US

Sen. Chris Van Hollen recently returned from El Salvador, where he met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was mistakenly deported by the Trump administration. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has proposed a deal to exchange 252 Venezuelans deported from the U.S. and imprisoned in El Salvador for “political prisoners” held by Venezuela. Bukele specifically mentioned journalist Roland Carreno, human rights lawyer Rocio San Miguel, and others as part of the proposed exchange. The Salvadoran government plans to present this proposal to Venezuela through diplomatic channels. The Trump administration recently deported at least 200 Venezuelans to El Salvador, accusing them of being part of a criminal gang. The Venezuelan government denies having political prisoners and claims those detained have been convicted of crimes. The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting another group of Venezuelan migrants accused of gang ties under a wartime law. The Trump administration has indicated that they will comply with the court’s decision. Overall, the situation involves complex diplomatic negotiations and legal challenges surrounding the deportation and detention of Venezuelan migrants in El Salvador and the U.S.