Venezuela’s attorney general, Tarek Saab, announced on Monday that his office would examine the actions of El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, along with two other officials, regarding allegations of mistreatment against Venezuelans held in detention.
More than 250 Venezuelans detained in El Salvador’s Cecot prison were repatriated on Friday as part of a previously arranged exchange with the U.S.
Saab stated at a press conference that detainees suffered rights violations, including physical abuse, denial of medical care, and being given inadequate food and water, which led to illness. Videos were presented showing former detainees describing mistreatment and displaying injuries they attributed to their detention.
Alongside Bukele, Venezuela plans to scrutinize the roles of El Salvador’s justice minister, Gustavo Villatoro, and its prison director, Osiris Luna Meza. Bukele’s office had not yet commented on the matter.
The Venezuelans were transferred from the U.S. to El Salvador in March after the Trump administration used the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to bypass standard immigration procedures while deporting individuals accused of gang affiliation.
The move faced condemnation from rights organizations and legal challenges. Relatives and lawyers of some deportees disputed their alleged connections to criminal groups.
The former detainees arrived near Caracas on Friday, where some families were able to reunite, though they have yet to return home.
Yajaira Fuenmayor, mother of released detainee Alirio Guillermo Belloso, shared that she was preparing his favorite meal in welcome.
Government officials stated that the men would undergo medical and procedural reviews before being released. Authorities have maintained that the detentions in El Salvador were unlawful and that only a small number of those returned had significant criminal backgrounds.
Venezuela's opposition has frequently accused President Nicolás Maduro and his administration of subjecting activists and others to comparable conditions domestically.
Recently, the U.S. reported that 80 Venezuelans would be freed as part of the same agreement that secured the release of 10 U.S. citizens held in Venezuela.
The legal rights organization Foro Penal noted that 48 Venezuelans classified as political detainees had been released but expressed concern over the lack of an official list to confirm details. They cautioned that some circulating lists included names of individuals not recognized as political prisoners.
Read next
Five Fatalities Reported on Mexico’s Pacific Coast as Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel Strike
At least five fatalities have occurred following the impact of Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel on Mexico's Pacific coast, resulting in widespread flooding that toppled trees and power lines, obstructed roads, and flooded homes.
Governor Evelyn Salgado reported that a 71-year-old man died in Chilpancingo,
Intense Lobbying, Legal Challenges, and Media Campaign: Efforts to Defund Church of England's £100m Slavery Compensation Fund
The debate surrounding the Church of England's plan to allocate £100 million for reparations related to its historical involvement in the slave trade has sparked significant controversy. Lord Nigel Biggar, a prominent critic, describes the initiative as "virtue signaling" by elites attempting to appear progressive. He
Digital Breach Causes Freezing Failure in Two French Supermarket Chains
French supermarket chains Intermarché and Cooperative U have experienced a significant cyber-attack that led to the defrosting of their refrigerators, according to statements from the retailers.
Approximately 150-200 Intermarché locations and nearly 100 Cooperative U stores were targeted in the attack, as reported on Monday. Paris prosecutors confirmed