Summary
Four Venezuelan men, deported from the U.S., were detained in a high-security prison in El Salvador. They faced harsh conditions before being released as part of a prisoner exchange deal. Allegations about mistreatment in the prison are under discussion, with no official response yet from the Salvadoran government.
Key Facts
- Mervin Yamarte and three other Venezuelans were deported from the U.S. to a prison in El Salvador.
- The deportation was part of a deal involving the U.S., Venezuela, and El Salvador.
- The men spent four months in the prison, where they claimed they were mistreated.
- They were accused of being part of the Tren de Aragua gang, which they denied.
- A total of 252 Venezuelans were released from the prison as part of the exchange.
- The deportations were conducted under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which allows deportation of non-citizens during war times.
- The U.S. authorities argued that these individuals were involved in "irregular warfare" in the U.S.
- The Salvadoran government's response to the mistreatment allegations has not yet been received.
