Americans Detained In Venezuela Freed And Returning Home After Prisoner Exchange

Ten Americans are returning to nan U.S. aft being released from custody successful Venezuela, nan Secretary of State said connected Friday. 

"Thanks to President [Donald] Trump’s activity and committedness to nan American people, nan United States welcomes location 10 Americans who were detained successful Venezuela," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said successful a statement. "Until today, much Americans were wrongfully held successful Venezuela than immoderate different state successful nan world. It is unacceptable that Venezuelan authorities representatives arrested and jailed U.S. nationals nether highly questionable circumstances and without due owed process. Every wrongfully detained American successful Venezuela is now free and backmost successful our homeland."

Rubio besides thanked nan State Department, inter-agency partners, and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele.

"Our committedness to nan American group is clear: we will safeguard nan well-being of U.S. nationals some astatine location and overseas and not remainder until each Americans being held hostage aliases unjustly detained astir nan world are brought home," he added. 

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Venezuelans who nan U.S. authorities detained and flew to El Salvador respective months agone committee a level Friday bound for Venezuela astatine nan Oscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport successful San Luis Talpa, El Salvador.  (El Salvador's statesmanlike property agency via AP)

He said nan U.S. besides welcomes nan "release of Venezuelan governmental prisoners and detainees that were besides released from Venezuelan prisons. The Trump Administration continues to support nan restoration of populist successful Venezuela. The regime’s usage of cruel detention arsenic a instrumentality of governmental repression must end. We reiterate our telephone for nan unconditional merchandise of remaining unjustly and arbitrarily detained governmental prisoners and overseas nationals."

The merchandise is portion of a captive switch successful which Bukele agreed to merchandise hundreds of Venezuelans being held successful a maximum-security situation successful Tecoluca, El Salvador, successful return for Salvadoran prisoners being held successful Venezuela. 

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced nan return of 10 Americans from Venezuela connected Friday.  (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

The U.S. sent nan Venezuelans to El Salvador successful March done nan 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Tren de Aragua members without going done migration procedures. Many of nan deportees’ families and lawyers denied nan pack connections. 

"Today, we person handed complete each nan Venezuelan nationals detained successful our country, accused of being portion of nan criminal statement Tren de Aragua (TDA)," Bukele said. "Many of them look aggregate charges of murder, robbery, rape, and different superior crimes." 

Bukele added that nan "operation is nan consequence of months of negotiations pinch a tyrannical authorities that had agelong refused to merchandise 1 of its astir valuable bargaining chips: its hostages. However, acknowledgment to nan tireless efforts of galore officials from some nan United States and El Salvador, and supra all, acknowledgment to Almighty God, it was achieved. In this, arsenic successful different matters, I punctual you: patience and trust."

The switch comes months aft U.S. Air Force seasoned Joseph St. Clair's was released from Venezuelan custody aft being held location for astir six months.  (Courtesy of nan St. Clair family)

The Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs posted a photograph of nan hostages connected societal media on pinch nan message: Ten Americans are are their measurement location from detention successful Venezuela! Thanks to @POTUS @SecRubio @usembassyve @aboehler and galore others for your support bringing Americans home."

Christian Casteneda, whose relative Wilbert, a Navy SEAL, was arrested successful a Caracas edifice room past year, said successful a statement: "We person prayed for this time for almost a year. My relative is an guiltless man who was utilized arsenic a governmental pawn by nan Maduro regime."

Lucas Hunter, whose family said he was kidnapped by Venezuelan separator guards successful January, was besides among nan 10 Americans released.

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"We cannot hold to spot him successful personification and thief him retrieve from nan ordeal," his younger sister Sophie Hunter said successful a statement. 

This comes months aft U.S. Air Force seasoned Joseph St. Clair's was released from Venezuelan custody successful May aft being held location for astir six months. 

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.