Venezuela Releases Jailed Americans In Deal That Frees Migrants Deported To El Salvador By U.S.

SAN SAN LUIS TALPA, LA PAZ, EL SALVADOR JULY 18: Venezuelan migrants accused by the U.S. of belonging to the Tren de Aragua criminal gang are seen being transferred from the Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot) in El Salvador before being repatriated to Caracas on July 18, 2025 in La Paz, El Salvador. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele announced that more than 250 Venezuelans deported by the Trump administration in March were sent back to Venezuela in exchange for the release of 10 U.S. citizens and several Venezuelan political prisoners. The migrants were flown to Maiquetia Venezuela, as confirmed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. (Photo by El Salvador Press Presidency Office/Anadolu via Getty Images)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela has released 10 jailed U.S. citizens and permanent residents in exchange for getting home scores of migrants deported by the United States to El Salvador months ago under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The arrangement represents a diplomatic achievement for Venezuelan President NicolౠMaduro and helps President Donald Trump in his goal of bringing home Americans jailed abroad. El Salvador will send back some 300 Venezuelan migrants whom the Trump administration agreed to pay $6 million to house in a notorious Salvadoran prison. The arrangement drew immediate blowback when Trump invoked an 18th century wartime law to quickly remove men his administration had accused of belonging to the violent Tren de Aragua street gang.