Ten Americans held in Venezuela are officially on their way home following a high-stakes prisoner swap led by the Trump administration. The detainees were released in exchange for El Salvador returning 252 Venezuelan nationals — many of them suspected gang members — who had been transferred from the U.S. to a high-security prison earlier this year.
“Thanks to President Trump”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the release on Friday, praising President Trump’s leadership for making the deal possible.
“Thanks to President Donald Trump’s leadership and commitment to the American people, the United States welcomes home ten Americans who were detained in Venezuela,” Rubio said.
He condemned Venezuela’s socialist regime for jailing U.S. citizens under “highly questionable circumstances” and without due process.
“Until today, more Americans were wrongfully held in Venezuela than any other country in the world,” Rubio added. “Every wrongfully detained American in Venezuela is now free and back in our homeland.”
Behind the Deal
The agreement was brokered with the help of El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, who led negotiations with Venezuela’s
Subscribe to Our Free Newsletter
VIEW MORE NEWS