Over 200 prisoners released in major US-Venezuela prisoner swap

WASHINGTON

The US and Venezuela on Friday completed a prisoner swap, with 10 Americans freed in exchange for over 200 Venezuelans held in a prison in El Salvador.

CNN reported that around 250 Venezuelans the Trump administration transferred to a high-security prison in El Salvador were sent back to Venezuela in exchange for Americans the US says were "wrongfully detained."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the release of the US nationals, calling it the result of President Donald Trump’s “leadership and commitment to the American people.”

"It is unacceptable that Venezuelan regime representatives arrested and jailed U.S. nationals under highly questionable circumstances and without proper due process," Rubio said in a written statement. “Every wrongfully detained American in Venezuela is now free and back in our homeland.”

Rubio also welcomed the release of Venezuelan alleged "political prisoners" and detainees released from Venezuelan prisons and thanked El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele for his role in the operation.

Bukele confirmed on social media that all Venezuelans held in El Salvador — many accused of being members of the criminal organization Tren de Aragua — were handed over to Venezuelan authorities.

He said the exchange was made in return for the release of both the American hostages and Venezuelan "political prisoners."

“These individuals are now en route to El Salvador, where they will make a brief stop before continuing their journey home,” Bukele added.

There was no immediate statement from Venezuelan authorities.