10 Americans Freed In Prisoner Swap Between U.S., El Salvador and Venezuela


Washington D.C. – CBS News, July 18, 2025

Ten Americans are en route to the U.S. after a prisoner swap involving the U.S., El Salvador and Venezuela, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday.

“Thanks to @POTUS’s leadership, ten Americans who were detained in Venezuela are on their way to freedom,” Rubio wrote on X.

The Americans were freed from Venezuela in exchange for El Salvador returning 252 Venezuelans who were deported from the U.S. to a notorious prison in El Salvador earlier this year, senior administration officials said, claiming the released Venezuelans were members of the gang Tren de Aragua.

A former Navy SEAL, Wilbert Joseph Castaneda, is among the Americans released, three sources told CBS News. Castaneda was detained in Venezuela last year while on personal travel. 

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