El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has proposed a controversial prisoner exchange to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, offering to repatriate 252 Venezuelans recently deported by the United States in exchange for the release of the same number of political prisoners held in Venezuela.
Bukele, who made the offer via a post on social media platform X, described the move as a “humanitarian agreement.” He claimed the Venezuelan deportees — many of whom are currently being held in El Salvador’s high-security Terrorism Confinement Center — had committed serious crimes, including rape and murder.
In contrast, Bukele argued that the political prisoners in Venezuela were being held solely for opposing Maduro’s regime, which has faced widespread international criticism for alleged human rights abuses and a heavily disputed re-election.
“I want to propose to you [Maduro] a humanitarian agreement calling for the repatriation of 100% of the 252 Venezuelans who were deported, in exchange for the release… of the identical number from among the thousands of political prisoners that you hold,” Bukele wrote. He also included nearly 50 other foreign nationals, including Americans, as part of the proposed exchange.
In response, Venezuela’s chief prosecutor, Tarek William Saab, condemned Bukele’s proposal, questioning the legal basis of the detentions. “What crimes were these deportees charged with? Were they given access to legal counsel or a trial?” he asked, defending Venezuela’s claim that it holds no political prisoners — a statement widely challenged by international human rights groups.
The deportees in question were sent from the US to El Salvador under the administration of President Donald Trump, who has resumed hard-line immigration policies since taking office in January. Washington accuses many of the deported Venezuelans of belonging to the notorious Tren de Aragua criminal gang. Under an arrangement with the US, El Salvador has been paid to detain them.
Maduro has slammed the deportations, describing them as “kidnapping” and a “massive abuse” of human rights by the US.
The legal basis for the US deportations stems from the rarely used 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which gives the president authority to deport nationals of enemy states without standard legal protections. The act has previously only been used during times of war, raising significant legal and ethical questions. On Saturday, the US Supreme Court ordered a temporary halt to the deportation of another group of Venezuelan detainees, pending further legal review.
President Bukele, who recently secured re-election amid high approval ratings for his aggressive anti-gang measures, has referred to himself — half-jokingly — as “the world’s coolest dictator.” His latest offer marks another bold move in his increasingly high-profile global political stance.
While neither Caracas nor Washington has formally responded to Bukele’s prisoner swap offer, the proposal adds a new dimension to the ongoing geopolitical and humanitarian debate surrounding immigration, gang violence, and political repression.
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