SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador don propose make he go collect 252 Venezuelans wey deported from the U.S. and dey prison for his country. Bukele wan make this arrangement in exchange for 252 political prisoners detained for Venezuela under President Nicolás Maduro. Dis offer come on Sunday through a post wey Bukele put for social media, where e directly call out Maduro.
“I want to propose you, Maduro, a humanitarian agreement to repatriate all 252 Venezuelans wey dey for my custody, in exchange for the same number of the political prisoners wey you dey hold,” Bukele write. He add say many of the Venezuelans wey deported don commit serious crimes like rape and murder, while the political prisoners dey there because dem oppose Maduro, wey re-election last year no too clear.
Venezuelan chief prosecutor Tarek William Saab no take the proposal lightly. E respond sharply, ask wetin be the specific crimes wey Bukele dey accuse the deportees of. “Wetin be the crimes? Dem don appear before judge? Dem get access to legal counsel?” Saab query. E also emphasize say the Venezuelan government no sabi anything about political prisoners, a claim wey many human rights groups no agree with.
As the matter dey unfold, Bukele mention say he ready include nearly 50 detainees from different nationalities in the exchange, wey include U.S. citizens. “Our foreign ministry go send the formal letter to you,” Bukele add, expressing willingness to engage diplomatically.
Dis whole situation dey serious as over 200 Venezuelans don dey sent back to El Salvador from the U.S. recently, with the Trump administration accusing dem of being part of the Tren de Aragua criminal gang. U.S. dey pay El Salvador approximately $6 million to hold the deportees at the notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), wey Bukele don label as high-security. Some critics dey call am a torture center, questioning the validity of the deportations.
Bukele don gain a lot of popularity from his strong stance against gangs, and e even call himself “the world’s coolest dictator.” But critics no dey rest; dem dey accuse am of jailing too many people without due process.
Saab continue to call Bukele “neofascist,” stating that the treatment of Venezuelans in both the U.S. and El Salvador dey violate international human rights laws. He demand for details concerning the 252 detainees, including their health and legal status, saying all eyes dey on El Salvador now. “The world should be worried about dis kind treatment wey dey go on,” Saab said.
In the midst of dis, some US officials don express support for Bukele’s move. Adam Boehler, the U.S. special envoy for hostage response, appreciate the proposal publicly, noting that 10 American detainees dey among those wey go fit be included in the swap.
Venezuela’s administration don repeatedly deny say dey get political prisoners, insisting that the people wey dem dey hold don commit offenses. However, NGOs don reported that over 800 people dey held for political reasons in the country.
Dis whole exchange matter fit affect the U.S. immigration policy as the administration don dey face legal challenges. The Supreme Court don pause further deportations, forcing the government to review its approach.
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