Men the Trump administration had sent to an El Salvador mega-prison are exchanged in a prisoner swap
NBC3 days
US, El Salvador Complete Prisoner Swap With Venezuela
Above: Venezuelan nationals being repatriated from El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) to Caracas on July 18, 2025. Image copyright: El Salvador Press Presidency Office/Anadolu/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
This prisoner swap represents a major diplomatic victory for the Trump administration, one that demonstrates strong American leadership in bringing home wrongfully detained citizens and showcases both the effectiveness of Trump's tough negotiating stance and the importance of the reliable partnership with El Salvador. When faced with determined U.S. pressure, authoritarian regimes like Maduro's will always bend.
Government-critical narrative
It's actually concerning that the Trump administration agreed to a prisoner swap with the illegitimate Maduro regime. Let alone issues related to the Alien Enemies Act, and that this agreement grants a de facto legitimacy to Venezuela's dictator, a prisoner swap at a 25:1 ratio sets a dangerous precedent that will encourage authoritarian governments such as that of Maduro to detain as many Americans as they can to win concessions from Washington.
Establishment-critical narrative
This is a major diplomatic victory for Venezuela. For months, this group of U.S.-based Venezuelans, who are now back in their home country, had been deprived of their rights and dignity as they were forcibly expelled from the U.S. and sent to concentration camps in El Salvador based exclusively on baseless gang membership allegations. Caracas paid a high price, releasing individuals involved in destabilization plans, but now they are free at last.