CNN
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Venezuela says it has launched a formal investigation into several Salvadoran officials, including President Naive Buquere, on alleged abuse of Venezuelan immigrants deported from the United States.
In exchange for 10 US citizens and dozens of Venezuelan political prisoners, around 252 Venezuelans who were incarcerated in the infamous CECOT prison in March were released on Friday and returned to their home countries, U.S. officials said.
Venezuela previously accused El Salvador of luring detainees after detaining them. El Salvador claimed that the detainees had connections with Venezuelan gangster Tren de Aragua, but immigration lawyers, supporters and families pushed it back, and in many cases the detainees had no criminal history.
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab held a press conference Monday to show compiled footage of detainees dealing with alleged abuse and talking about their prison experiences. Saab said the authorities have collected 123 complaints of abuse, including reports of sexual assault, torture and assault by Salvador prison guards.
In one of the videos, the man says he was sexually abused.
In another, several detainees claiming they were beaten and shot with pellets and pepper spray, showing visible bruises and scars throughout their bodies.
CNN cannot independently verify the extent of the injury, when maintained, or whether a man is speaking under obsessive compulsion. It reached out to President Salvador for comment.
In the past, the Bukere regime has respected the human rights of people detained “without discrimination of nationality,” and said that its prison system meets standards of security and order.
Venezuela is facing accusations of prison abuse, but its government argues it respects the rights of prisoners.
The released immigrants have not yet reunited with their Venezuelan families. Officials say they have undergone health, immigration and criminal history checks, among other procedures. This is a daily process for developers returning to the country.
The two relatives of the former appellant told CNN they were still waiting for Venezuelan officials to hand them over to their families. One relative said her nephew could be handed over today. CNN was unable to access any of the released Venezuelans.
The migrants arrived at Simon Bolivar International Airport near Caraca on two flights departing from El Salvador, said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The family of the former appellant told CNN on Friday that they were excited about their return.
Mariyin Araujo, wife of Jerce Reyes, said she was “a joy.”
“My two daughters are so happy. They are really worried and can’t wait to see their dad,” she said Friday.
Blanca Martinez, partner of Miguel Angel Rojas, another former Venezuelan detainee, told CNN she was excited to hear from him for the first time in four months.
“When I think we can hear him…it excites me,” she said. “I am happy and happy to him, his son, his mom, his dad and his whole family.”
