Venezuela’s Attorney General, Tarek William Saab, has sharply criticized a recent proposal by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to exchange Venezuelan migrants incarcerated in El Salvador for political prisoners held by the Venezuelan government. In a statement issued Sunday, Saab labeled the proposal as “cynical,” adding that it was a blatant attempt to interfere in Venezuela’s internal affairs under the guise of humanitarian concern.
Bukele’s offer followed the expulsion of 252 Venezuelan migrants from the United States, who were subsequently detained in El Salvador. The Salvadoran president suggested that instead of keeping them imprisoned, his government was willing to repatriate the migrants to Venezuela in exchange for individuals he referred to as “political prisoners” detainees in Venezuela widely considered by international observers to be imprisoned for dissenting against the Maduro administration.
Saab rejected the proposal, demanding transparency and legal accountability from Bukele’s government. “I immediately request the complete list with identification of all detainees and their judicial status, as well as proof of life and a medical report on each of the hostages,” Saab said. He also called for detailed information on the charges against the migrants, whether they had appeared before a judge, and if they had legal representation.
The attorney general’s response underscores the deepening political rift between Venezuela and several Latin American leaders who have been vocal critics of President Nicolás Maduro’s human rights record. While Bukele has garnered praise internationally for his tough stance on crime within El Salvador, his latest move appears to tread into complex diplomatic territory.
Human rights organizations have long criticized Venezuela for detaining opposition figures, activists, and journalists, often without due process. However, Saab’s rebuttal framed Bukele’s proposal as a form of political showmanship lacking in legal and ethical grounding.
As tensions simmer, the fate of the 252 Venezuelan migrants remains uncertain. Bukele’s administration has yet to respond formally to Saab’s demands, but the escalating rhetoric signals that any potential prisoner exchange will likely remain mired in diplomatic friction.
