After US Talks, Nicaragua Expels Dozens of Political Prisoners to Guatemala

Political Prisoners Released in Nicaragua Following U.S. Negotiations

In a significant development, the United States has facilitated the release of numerous political prisoners in Nicaragua, following discussions with President Daniel Ortega’s administration. On Thursday, the White House announced that 135 prisoners were freed under humanitarian grounds, with plans for them to be transferred to Guatemala and possibly onward to the U.S. or other countries.

Since 2018, Ortega’s regime has intensified its clampdown on political dissent, arresting opponents and charging them with offenses such as conspiracy and treason, while also revoking citizenship for many. Among those targeted are Catholic church leaders who had attempted to mediate during violent anti-government protests.

Rosario Murillo, Ortega’s wife and government spokesperson, did not provide immediate comments on the recent release of prisoners. This event comes after "months of negotiations" between the U.S. and Nicaragua, as confirmed by a joint statement from both nations.

The released individuals are all Nicaraguan citizens, including members of a U.S.-based Christian ministry, Catholic laypeople, and students. Eric Jacobstein, a senior U.S. diplomat for Western Hemisphere Affairs involved in the negotiations, was present in Guatemala City to welcome some of the released prisoners and reiterated Washington’s commitment to urging Managua to uphold human rights. Jacobstein expressed his dismay at the regime’s "true pettiness and cruelty."

Thursday’s release follows last year’s mass release, where over 200 individuals, including former opposition candidates, were flown to the U.S. Those prisoners had been labeled by Ortega as "mercenaries" attempting to destabilize his government.

This year, Nicaragua expelled 19 Catholic clergy members to the Vatican, including Bishop Rolando Alvarez, a leading critic of Ortega, who had been sentenced to 26 years in prison for treason. The office of Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo confirmed that the plane carrying the released Nicaraguans landed in Guatemala early on Thursday morning, where they will have the opportunity to seek asylum in another country.

Among those freed were individuals connected to the Texas-based evangelical group Mountain Gateway. The group noted that 13 pastors and attorneys associated with them had been released from what they deemed "wrongful imprisonment." They were arrested last December and subsequently convicted of money laundering earlier this year.

The Nicaraguan government’s crackdown has also extended to the closure of thousands of civil society organizations, most of which were accused of financial misconduct. A recent United Nations report highlighted alleged human rights violations committed by Ortega’s government in the past year, including new instances of arbitrary arrests and torture.