The Trump administration has completed a significant prisoner swap with Venezuela, marking a diplomatic milestone. On Friday (July 18), about 250 Venezuelans deported from the United States and detained in El Salvador were returned to Venezuela in exchange for 10 American hostages held in Venezuela.. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on social media that the Americans are "on their way to freedom."

The Venezuelans had been held in El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT, after being deported under a wartime authority used by the Trump administration in March. The deportations sparked controversy, with immigration attorneys and families disputing claims that these individuals were gang members.

Venezuelan officials announced the arrival of a flight from Texas carrying the deported individuals, including several children. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello hinted at further movements and arrivals throughout the day.

This prisoner swap is a diplomatic success for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who has been under scrutiny for human rights abuses. The exchange allows Maduro to strengthen his position domestically, despite ongoing international disputes over his legitimacy as president.

The swap follows previous negotiations between the U.S. and Venezuela, including the release of an American Air Force veteran earlier this year. The State Department’s Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA) coordinated the logistics of the swap.

Mandy Connell