The US president’s hostility toward the diaspora raises doubts about Washington’s true interest in a transition to democracy in Venezuela

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele proposed to Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro an exchange of 252 recently deported Venezuelans held in the Central American country for the same number of political prisoners held by Caracas’ socialist regime.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele proposed carrying out a prisoner swap with Venezuela on Sunday, suggesting he would exchange Venezuelan deportees from the United States his government has kept imprisoned for what he called “political prisoners” in Venezuela.