President Nicolás Maduro Celebrates Rescue of 252 Venezuelans and Six Children from CECOT

President Nicolás Maduro praises the successful humanitarian operation rescuing 252 Venezuelans, including six children, from El Salvador’s CECOT detention center, condemns ongoing separation of children in the US, and highlights Venezuela’s economic growth and binational zones.

The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, celebrated the humanitarian success in securing the safe return of 252 Venezuelans, including six children, from the infamous Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) in El Salvador. Speaking on Con Maduro+, the President described the rescue as a profound national victory born from relentless diplomatic effort and solidarity.

“Last Friday was a very intense day full of emotions. The children are sacred. There is no excuse or explanation for kidnapping a child. There is a God, and God sees everything.”

At the same time, President Maduro reminded the nation that the struggle is not over:

“We still have 29 boys and girls detained in the United States, separated from their families,”affirming that the Venezuelan government continues to demand their release and reunification with their families.

The President shared a personal and moving moment as he fulfilled a promise to Maikelis’s grandmother by securing the return of the girl’s father, calling the week “one of the most beautiful” in his life.

President Maduro condemned the grave human rights violations taking place in Bukele’s detention centers, citing international reports estimating over 427 deaths from torture and thousands subjected to unspeakable abuses. This situation remains a key point of diplomatic confrontation with both El Salvador and the United States.

Despite having contacted UN High Commissioner Volker Türk, the President noted the lack of action on the part of international institutions, contrasting it with the intervention of Pope Leo XIII, who he sent a letter demanding protection for the detained children. President Maduro criticized Bukele for evading responsibility, framing the rescue as a victorious defense of Venezuelan dignity and sovereignty amidst US-led blockades and aggression.

Turning to Venezuela’s economic prospects, President Maduro highlighted strong economic growth, stating:

“We have achieved seventeen quarters of continuous growth, with over 6% GDP expansion in the second quarter of 2025. A new economic model is being built with effort and our own strength, a sovereign and solid model rising despite more than a thousand economic sanctions imposed on us.”

He detailed the recently signed agreement with the Colombian government to establish Venezuela’s first binational economic zone involving the states of Táchira and Zulia paired with Colombia’s Norte de Santander and La Guajira.

This initiative seeks to create a zone of peace and integration,commercial, industrial, social, and cultural,unifying border communities under permanent political, police, and military coordination to eradicate violence from criminal organizations.

Additional binational zones are planned: one between Venezuela’s Apure state and Colombia’s Arauca, and another in the Amazon region linking Amazonas with Colombia’s Vichada and Guainía. The latter prioritizes ecological preservation and sustainable development to protect regional biodiversity.

The President underscored the international interest from countries such as China, India, Russia, and Turkey in investing and cooperating within these zones, highlighting Venezuela’s continued fight for economic sovereignty and regional integration.