President Bukele Proposes Prisoner Swap with Venezuela for Deportees

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has proposed a prisoner exchange with Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro. He aims to swap 252 Venezuelan deportees held in El Salvador for an identical number of political prisoners in Venezuela. The proposal comes amid international scrutiny over El Salvador’s handling of deportees, with calls for humane treatment of these individuals.

On Sunday, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele proposed a prisoner exchange with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. He suggested releasing imprisoned Venezuelan deportees in El Salvador in return for what he termed “political prisoners” detained in Venezuela. In a post on social media, Bukele pointed out that these individuals were imprisoned for opposing Maduro and his government’s electoral practices, labeling their detainment as unjust.

Bukele’s proposal included the repatriation of 100 percent of the 252 Venezuelans who had been deported to El Salvador. In return, he requested the release of the same number of political prisoners being held in Venezuela, including family members of opposition leaders, journalists, and activists who had been detained amid the government’s crackdown.

He urged El Salvador’s foreign ministry to establish communication with Maduro’s government regarding this arrangement, although a response from the Venezuelan government was not immediately forthcoming. The discourse surrounding this proposal arises from El Salvador facing international criticism over its handling of deportees, particularly from the Trump administration who labeled many as alleged gang members without substantial evidence.

El Salvador’s archbishop, José Luis Escobar Alas, called on Bukele to prevent the country from becoming “a big international prison.” Despite this criticism, Bukele continued to assert that those imprisoned in his country were targeted in operations against gangs, including the Tren de Aragua in the United States.

In summary, President Bukele’s proposal for a prisoner swap with Venezuela highlights the complex and contentious nature of immigration and political detainment issues in the region. By calling for the repatriation of Venezuelan deportees in exchange for the release of political prisoners, he navigates both national and international pressures. The response from Maduro’s government remains pending, and the implications of this proposal may significantly affect El Salvador’s international reputation.

Original Source: www.haltonhillstoday.ca

About Carmen Mendez

Carmen Mendez is an engaging editor and political journalist with extensive experience. After completing her degree in journalism at Yale University, she worked her way up through the ranks at various major news organizations, holding positions from staff writer to editor. Carmen is skilled at uncovering the nuances of complex political scenarios and is an advocate for transparent journalism.

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