The deal involved Venezuela taking them in exchange for "political prisoners," El Salvador's president said. Ten American nationals were also released by Venezuela.

The Venezuelans had originally been deported by the US under the Trump administration to El Salvador earlier this year, under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which gives a US president power to detain and deport natives or citizens of "enemy" nations without usual processes.

By Aram Roston, Ted Hesson and Vivian Sequera WASHINGTON/CARACAS (Reuters) -El Salvador is sending home Venezuelans detained in the country in a prisoner exchange for Americans held in Venezuela, officials from all three countries said on Friday.