Venezuelan migrants freed in US prisoner swap arrive home
The 252 men, previously held in the high-security CECOT prison, were accused without evidence of gang ties and deported under rarely used wartime powers.
Their release followed months of legal battles and political negotiations, culminating in a swap for 10 Americans or US residents held in Venezuela, along with 80 political prisoners, according to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.
Emotional reunions unfolded at Maiquetía airport, where families embraced loved ones they had not heard from in months.
'I don't have words to explain how I feel!' said Juan Yamarte, whose brother Mervin was among those freed. Mervin's mother, overjoyed, prepared a celebratory soup for his return. The men had been denied court hearings and were held incommunicado, with rights groups noting only seven had prior criminal records.
Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro thanked Trump for 'rectifying this irregular situation,' while Bukele acknowledged the difficulty of negotiating with a 'tyrannical regime.'
The freed Americans, including 37-year-old Lucas Hunter—detained since January—were flown to San Salvador before returning to the US.
Separately, 244 Venezuelans deported from the US and seven 'rescued' children arrived in Caracas.
The Trump administration has intensified migrant crackdowns, repatriating over 8,200 Venezuelans since February. Rights groups condemned the detentions, citing lack of due process. - AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
18 minutes ago
- The Sun
Zelensky seeks Putin meeting to end Ukraine war amid US talks
KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged a direct meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to resolve the ongoing war. The call comes after Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, held discussions with Putin in Moscow. Trump described the talks as 'highly productive,' though US officials reaffirmed plans to sanction Moscow's trading partners. Zelensky later revealed a phone conversation with Trump, who hinted at a potential Putin meeting 'very soon.' European leaders reportedly joined the call, signalling broader diplomatic involvement. 'We in Ukraine have repeatedly said that finding real solutions can be truly effective at the level of leaders,' Zelensky stated on social media. He stressed the need to finalise timing and agenda details for high-level negotiations. Zelensky also confirmed planned talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and officials from France and Italy. Further discussions at the national security advisor level were also mentioned. 'The main thing is for Russia, which started this war, to take real steps to end its aggression,' Zelensky emphasised. – AFP
The Sun
18 minutes ago
- The Sun
Body found on melting Pakistan glacier after 28 years
KHAPLU: The body of a man who went missing 28 years ago has been discovered on a melting glacier in northern Pakistan, bringing long-awaited relief to his grieving family. The remains of 31-year-old Nasiruddin were found near the edge of the Lady Meadows glacier in the Kohistan region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Locals spotted the well-preserved body on 31 July as the glacier continued to shrink due to rising temperatures. Nasiruddin had disappeared in 1997 after he and his brother fled into the mountains following a village dispute. He fell into a crevasse during the escape, while his brother survived. 'Our family left no stone unturned to trace him over the years,' said Malik Ubaid, Nasiruddin's nephew. He explained that relatives had made repeated attempts to recover the body over the years, even visiting the glacier multiple times. 'Our uncles and cousins visited the glacier several times to see if his body could be retrieved, but they eventually gave up as it wasn't possible,' he said. Nasiruddin, who used only one name, was a husband and father of two at the time of his disappearance. His identity card was found intact on his body, helping to confirm who he was. A local shepherd discovered the body, and he was buried the following day. 'Finally, we have got some relief after the recovery of his dead body,' Ubaid said. Kohistan is located in the outer reaches of the Himalayan range and is known for its remote, mountainous terrain. Pakistan holds over 13,000 glaciers, the largest concentration of glacial ice outside the polar regions. However, global warming linked to human-caused climate change has accelerated glacial melt across the region. – AFP
Malay Mail
18 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
On again: Maradona doctors' trial back on track after judges reject impartiality claim
BUENOS AIRES, Aug 7 — Judges appointed to try the medical team of late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona over his death rejected on Wednesday a request by the defense for two of the judicial panel to be recused. The first trial into Maradona's 2020 death collapsed in May after one of the judges was sensationally revealed to have taken part in a clandestine documentary about the trial. A new three-judge bench was appointed in July to conduct a fresh trial. Lawyers for Maradona's personal physician, Leopoldo Luque, one of seven people charged with culpable homicide over the star's death, had asked for two judges to be removed from the case, saying they feared they would 'not be impartial.' The judges rejected the request, saying it was based on 'conjecture' and 'speculation.' No date has yet been set for the new trial. Maradona, considered one of the world's greatest ever players, died in November 2020 at the age of 60 while recovering from brain surgery. He died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema – a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs – two weeks after going under the knife. His medical team was put on trial over the conditions of his home convalescence, which prosecutors described as grossly negligent. They risk prison terms of between eight and 25 years if convicted of 'homicide with possible intent,' or pursuing a course of action despite knowing it could lead to his death. — AFP
