Venezuela releases jailed Americans in exchange for migrants deported to El Salvador
Venezuela trades Americans for deported migrants
Venezuela has released several jailed Americans as part of a deal that also frees migrants deported to El Salvador by the United States.
HOUSTON - Venezuela has released several jailed Americans as part of a deal that also frees migrants deported to El Salvador by the United States.
Among those affected are alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang, previously sent to the Central American country by the Trump administration.
Americans released from Venezuela
Maria and Eddie Quevedo
What they're saying:
Maria Quevedo, the mother of Eddie Hurtado Quevedo, a Venezuelan man who was sent to El Salvador's confinement center, expressed relief upon learning her son is now back in Venezuela.
"I feel calmer. I feel happy because, for me, he's out of danger now," Quevedo said.
When Quevedo first heard about the potential agreement between El Salvador and Venezuela, she was skeptical.
"I saw the news but didn't believe it because it wasn't from a reliable source," she explained. "But when I woke up this morning and saw the news, everyone was calling me—journalists, lawyers—and I was really surprised."
Mother seeks answers as son detained in El Salvador's CECOT for alleged involvement in Venezuelan TdA gang
A Venezuelan mother is seeking answers after her son was detained in El Salvador, accused of being a member of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang.
Quevedo was devastated when her son was initially sent to El Salvador's CECOT confinement center. She insists her son is not a member of Tren de Aragua and has no criminal record in the United States or Venezuela.
"I was overjoyed to see that my son was now free. He is in his own country, in our country, now free. It was the best birthday present," she said, noting that she had prayed for this outcome.
Despite her son's return to Venezuela, Quevedo has not yet spoken with him due to ongoing quarantine procedures.
"I love him, and I feel very proud of the strong young man he has become," she said.
Alleged gang member deported to El Salvador
Mother shows proof of son's innocence as he's being detained in El Salvador
FOX 26's Jonathan Mejia spoke with a Venezuelan mother whose son is being detained in El Salvador, where the U.S. has sent alleged members of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua. The mother says her son is no violent criminal, nor a member of TdA.
The backstory:
Quevedo was shocked to see Eddie in a video posted on X, showing alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua arriving at El Salvador's maximum-security prison, El CECOT.
Peruvian records show Eddie has no criminal history. However, during an immigration court date, Maria learned that the U.S. had evidence against Eddie, alleging he was a member of Tren de Aragua. Maria says her son has 19 tattoos, none associated with the gang.
The Source: FOX 26's Jonathan Mejia spoke with Maria Quevedo.