Keep Factually independent

Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.

Loading...Time left: ...
Loading...Goal: $500

Fact check: Who were the 10 prisoners the us exchanged with Venezuela?

Checked on August 13, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the 10 American prisoners exchanged with Venezuela have been identified by multiple sources. The complete list includes: Wilbert Joseph Castaneda, Jorge Marcelo Vargas, Lucas Hunter, Jonathan Pagan Gonzalez, Ronald Oribio Quintana, Erick Oribio Quintana, Fabian Buglione Reyes, Renzo Humanchumo Castillo, Juan Jose Faria Bricen and Danud Hanid Ortiz [1] [2].

The prisoner exchange was part of a large-scale swap orchestrated by the Trump administration that involved multiple countries and parties [2]. One notable case among the released prisoners was Erick Oribio, a Baltimore man who was wrongfully detained in Venezuela [3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question focuses solely on identifying the American prisoners but omits several crucial aspects of this complex diplomatic arrangement:

  • The exchange involved Venezuelan migrants detained in El Salvador: Venezuela secured the release of scores of migrants who had been deported by the United States to El Salvador's Center for the Confinement of Terrorism (Cecot) [4] [5] [6]. This was not a simple bilateral prisoner swap but a triangular arrangement involving the U.S., Venezuela, and El Salvador.
  • The nature of the Venezuelan side of the exchange: The deal involved four Venezuelan men being released from El Salvador's notorious megaprison [4], highlighting that this wasn't just about American prisoners but also about Venezuelan nationals detained in third countries.
  • Timing and political context: This prisoner swap occurred during the Trump administration, suggesting it was part of broader diplomatic negotiations and foreign policy objectives [2].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question, while factually seeking information, presents a narrow framing that could mislead by focusing exclusively on the American side of the exchange. This framing:

  • Obscures the complexity of the deal: By asking only about the 10 American prisoners, it fails to acknowledge that this was a multilateral arrangement benefiting Venezuelan migrants detained in harsh conditions in El Salvador [5] [6].
  • Potentially minimizes Venezuelan concerns: The question doesn't acknowledge that Venezuela had legitimate interests in securing the release of its nationals from El Salvador's Center for the Confinement of Terrorism (Cecot), which has been described as a megaprison [4].
  • Could perpetuate a one-sided narrative: Political actors and media outlets might benefit from framing this as purely an American victory while downplaying the humanitarian aspects regarding Venezuelan migrants and the diplomatic concessions made to achieve the deal.
Want to dive deeper?
What were the charges against the US citizens imprisoned in Venezuela?
How did the US negotiate the prisoner exchange with Venezuela in 2023?
What were the names of the Venezuelan prisoners released by the US in the exchange?
What role did the US Department of State play in the prisoner exchange negotiations?
How does the US Venezuela prisoner exchange impact US foreign policy in the region?