Venezuela Frees Jailed Americans as Migrants Return from El Salvador in Controversial Three-Nation Deal

Maduro, Trump, and Bukele strike complex prisoner swap involving accusations of abuse, legal controversy, and diplomatic optics

In a rare three-way diplomatic maneuver, Venezuela released 10 American citizens and permanent residents from prison on Friday, in exchange for the repatriation of over 250 Venezuelan migrants who had been held in El Salvador. The agreement is being hailed as a political win for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, former U.S. President Donald Trump, and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.

The Americans, previously imprisoned in Venezuela under various charges, were flown back to the United States after the deal was finalized. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement thanking President Bukele for his cooperation, calling it “a victory for American families and justice.” Rubio noted that all Americans wrongfully detained in Venezuela were now free.

President Maduro celebrated the development, declaring Friday “a day of blessings and good news for Venezuela” and calling it “a perfect day” for the country. Bukele, in turn, confirmed that all Venezuelan nationals in El Salvador’s custody had been handed over to Venezuelan authorities.

Central to the agreement was the release of more than 250 Venezuelan expatriates who had been imprisoned in El Salvador’s controversial mega-prison known as the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). In March, El Salvador had agreed to a $6 million deal with the Trump administration to hold these Venezuelans, many of whom were suspected of gang ties — specifically to the violent Tren de Aragua criminal network.

The move triggered a firestorm of criticism after Trump invoked the rarely used 18th-century Alien Enemies Act, allowing him to immediately demand the release of the prisoners without due process. Legal experts and human rights groups challenged the decision, launching a legal battle that escalated to the U.S. Supreme Court. The administration, however, failed to present concrete evidence linking the Venezuelan detainees to criminal activity.

CECOT, the Salvadoran mega-prison, has been under scrutiny from international human rights organizations for alleged abuses, including torture, deaths in custody, and denial of legal access. Built as a high-security facility to combat gang violence, the prison has become a symbol of Bukele’s hardline policies. Friday’s release was marked by tight security, with photos and videos showing shackled Venezuelan migrants being escorted by riot police onto buses and planes.

Upon arrival in Venezuela, emotional scenes unfolded. Many migrants wept, hugged one another, and made religious gestures. Most were dressed simply and wore face masks. Maduro claimed that several of the returnees had been mistreated while in Salvadoran custody, including one individual who allegedly lost a kidney due to beatings.

The swap, while resolving some pressing diplomatic concerns, has also reignited criticism over the use of international prisoners as political leverage. Rights groups continue to question the legality of detentions under wartime-era laws, and the humanitarian cost of such agreements.

Nonetheless, for the families of the released Americans and Venezuelans, Friday brought long-awaited relief — and a complex mix of gratitude, trauma, and unanswered questions.