WASHINGTON/CARACAS, July 18 – Over 200 Venezuelans who were previously deported from the United States and held in a high-security facility in El Salvador have now returned to Caracas, marking a significant prisoner exchange that also saw the release of 10 Americans from Venezuela.
Swap Agreement Unfolds
The exchange was carried out as part of a negotiated agreement between the governments of the United States, El Salvador, and Venezuela. The arrangement led to the repatriation of 252 Venezuelans who had been held at El Salvador’s infamous CECOT prison, a facility known for its strict security measures and controversial detention conditions.
According to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, the 10 Americans freed from Venezuelan custody were flown first to El Salvador before making their final return to the United States. President Bukele posted about the operation on his official social media account X, stating that the Americans were “continuing their journey home.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the development and thanked El Salvador for its assistance in facilitating the release.
In Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro celebrated the return of the deportees, greeting the arrival of two aircraft at an airport near Caracas on Friday evening. He described the event as a humanitarian gesture and a win for bilateral cooperation.
The group of Venezuelans had initially been deported from the U.S. in March under the authority of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, invoked by then-President Donald Trump. The order allowed the government to bypass normal immigration procedures by labeling the individuals as members of the Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization accused of transnational activity. However, many of those detained claimed they had no ties to criminal networks and were wrongfully accused.
Relatives and legal representatives of the deportees have long challenged their detention. They argue that many of the individuals were denied their constitutional rights, including the opportunity to challenge the accusations in court. Angie Rios, the wife of one detainee, expressed disbelief and joy upon hearing the news. “I have chills all over my body,” she said, reacting to the social media post confirming her husband’s release.
Venezuelan officials stated that all returning citizens would undergo medical evaluations before being allowed to reunite with their families. According to authorities, only seven individuals among the group had records of serious criminal offenses, while the majority were cleared for immediate release.
In addition to the deportees, Venezuela’s government also welcomed back seven Venezuelan children who had been separated from their families in the U.S. The children were part of a separate repatriation flight organized through regular deportation channels.
Political Prisoners and Legal Complexities
The deal also included political implications. Ten American citizens who had been imprisoned in Venezuela were released as part of the swap. The U.S. embassy, which remains shuttered in Caracas, A photo was released showing the freed individuals holding American flags next to U.S. Charge d’Affaires John McNamara, who was in the area to help coordinate their return. Another image showed the men boarding a plane back to the U.S.
Additionally, the prisoner exchange prompted Venezuela to adjust the legal status of several domestic political prisoners. While the Venezuelan government avoided referring to them as “released,” officials mentioned that alternative detention arrangements had been granted. Among those newly freed was Williams Davila, a former opposition governor and political figure who had been arrested last August. A local NGO also confirmed that 14 other individuals held for political reasons had been released under the same agreement.
Despite the celebratory tone surrounding the repatriations, human rights groups have voiced serious concerns about the treatment of detainees in both countries. Critics argue that El Salvador’s decision to house deportees from the United States in its maximum-security facility reflects a disregard for international standards. Likewise, Venezuela has long faced allegations of arbitrarily detaining opposition members and activists in similarly harsh conditions.
The use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans earlier this year stirred controversy in the United States, reviving legal debates over executive power and due process. The legislation, historically associated with World War II-era internments, allows the president to order the removal of nationals from countries considered hostile. In this case, the law was used to expedite deportations without court hearings.
Legal challenges soon followed, as civil rights advocates pushed back against what they described as unconstitutional actions. A federal judge had initially ordered a halt to the deportations, but the flights reportedly continued despite the directive. The matter escalated to the Supreme Court, which ruled in May that the government must provide adequate notice and allow detained individuals to file habeas corpus petitions before removing them under the Alien Enemies Act. This ruling significantly narrowed the scope of the law’s use.