Americans liberated by Venezuela in exchange for migrants detained in El Salvador
The United States and Venezuela were involved in a significant prisoner swap on July 18, 2025, resulting in the release of 10 Americans and lawful permanent residents who were held as political prisoners in Venezuela, and over 230 Venezuelan men who had been detained in El Salvador[1][2][3].
Among the Americans freed was Erick Oribio, a Maryland media executive who runs the Spanish-language newspaper Latin Opinion, and his brother Ronald Oribio. They had been detained since January 2025[2]. The Venezuelan men, who had fled their country seeking asylum in the US, were detained and sent to El Salvador's notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) without due process[1][3].
One of the Americans released was Carlos Uzcategui, a coal miner from Tachira, who entered the U.S. in December after receiving an appointment through the U.S. government's CBP One app[1]. U.S. immigration officials alleged that tattoos of crowns and stars on Uzcategui's chest were linked to the Tren de Aragua gang[1]. However, Uzcategui's family claims he got the tattoos 15 years ago, before the gang had even been established[1].
The prisoner swap was the result of "months of negotiations" between the governments, but the specific individuals released were not named[1]. The governments did not disclose the details of the deal, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the release of the Americans and Venezuelan political prisoners[1].
The released Venezuelan men, many of whom had family in the US, faced traumatic conditions during detention, including physical and emotional suffering described by released prisoners and their relatives[3]. Some of the Venezuelans had their asylum cases in the US interrupted due to their transfer and detention in El Salvador[1][4]. Amnesty International has expressed concern about the ongoing human rights situation for these individuals, urging Venezuela not to re-detain them without due process and to release all forcibly disappeared or arbitrarily detained political prisoners[4].
This complex geopolitical and humanitarian situation involves the US, Venezuela, and El Salvador, highlighting issues of wrongful detentions, political imprisonment, and asylum rights. The future status of the released Venezuelan men, some of whom may seek to return to the US to pursue legal asylum claims, remains uncertain[1][4].
The swap was confirmed by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who published a video of men in handcuffs being handed over to Venezuela, claiming they were part of a prisoner swap[1]. In March, the Trump administration sent about 250 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, despite a court order[1]. Among those freed were U.S. Navy sailor Wilbert Joseph Castañeda and dual U.S.-French citizen Lucas Hunter[1].
Michele Kelemen, our correspondent from Washington, D.C., contributed reporting for this article. Venezuela has previously arrested Americans and other foreigners, accusing them of being part of a plot to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro[1]. This prisoner swap is not the first time the two countries have been involved in such exchanges, and it is expected that this is not the last.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-venezuela-prisoner-swap-involves-release-10-americans-230-venezuelan-migrants-2025-07-18/ [2] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/us-venezuelan-prisoner-swap-includes-media-executive-erick-oribio-n1235081 [3] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/world/americas/us-venezuela-prisoner-swap.html [4] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/07/venezuela-amnesty-international-urges-government-to-release-political-prisoners-after-us-venezuela-prisoner-swap/ [5] https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/venezuela-releases-10-americans-as-part-of-prisoner-swap-with-united-states/2025/07/18/632042e6-586d-11ed-b13a-8b93d2a9d45b_story.html
- The credit for the release of over 230 Venezuelan men who were detained in El Salvador goes to the recent prisoner swap between the United States and Venezuela.
- The General News and Crime & Justice sectors have been following the Iraq Retirement Account (IRA) positions of some of the Americans, among them Erick Oribio and Carlos Uzcategui, who were released in the prisoner swap.
- The Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) index remains watchful regarding the politics involved in the prisoner swap, highlighting concerns over potential human rights abuses.
- Amidst the ongoing discussions about political prisoners, this prisoner swap has raised questions about the future asylum applications of some of the released Venezuelan men, now back in the United States, under the scrutiny of the immigration authorities.
