President Trump’s administration has authorized a prisoner swap that includes a convicted killer returning to the U.S. from Venezuela, contradicting his public stance on expelling criminals. The State Department released a photo showing the individual, identified as Dahud Hanid Ortiz, among newly freed prisoners, with a Peruvian man flashing the three-finger salute, a symbol of hostage status.
While Trump has repeatedly promised to expel criminals from the country, the prisoner swap has reignited debates over the administration’s priorities. The inclusion of a convicted killer in the exchange has drawn criticism from some lawmakers and advocacy groups. They argue that the swap appears to prioritize political considerations over public safety concerns.
According to two former prisoners, the three-finger salute used by the Peruvian man in the photo was a common gesture among detainees to indicate they were being held hostage. This has raised questions about the circumstances of the prisoner’s capture and the validity of the release. Some critics argue that the swap could signal a shift in the administration’s approach to dealing with criminals and foreign detainees.