U.S. Secures Release of 135 Political Prisoners from Nicaragua Following Lengthy Negotiations
The White House announced Thursday that the United States, through its diplomatic efforts, has successfully brokered the release of 135 political prisoners in Nicaragua on humanitarian grounds. The group, which consists of Nicaraguan citizens, includes members of Christian evangelical organizations, Catholic laypeople, and students. These individuals are set to arrive in Guatemala before seeking lawful immigration to the United States or other countries.
Diplomatic Efforts Bear Fruit
According to a joint statement by the U.S. and Guatemala, the release comes after months of negotiations between the U.S. and Nicaragua. The U.S. played a significant role in these discussions, leveraging its diplomatic influence to secure the release of the prisoners. The Nicaraguan government, led by President Daniel Ortega, has yet to comment on this latest development.
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo’s office confirmed that the released individuals’ plane landed early Thursday morning. In the meantime, the freed Nicaraguans will remain in Guatemala, where they can seek legal relocation. The joint statement noted that the U.S. has taken responsibility for their transport, food, and housing.
A Broader Context of Repression
This is not the first time political prisoners have been freed from Nicaragua. Last year, more than 200 prisoners were released and flown to the United States. President Ortega, who has launched a severe crackdown on dissent in recent years, previously described the 2023 release as an effort to expel individuals he accused of attempting to destabilize the nation.
The U.S. has maintained its stance against Ortega’s government, denouncing the 2021 presidential election, in which Ortega secured re-election, as a “sham.” Washington imposed sanctions on Nicaragua following a brutal campaign where opposition figures, journalists, and religious leaders were detained or imprisoned ahead of the vote.
Mountain Gateway Members Among the Freed
Among the latest prisoners to be freed are 13 members of Mountain Gateway, a Texas-based evangelical organization. Eleven of its pastors were arrested in December 2023 and later convicted of money laundering, charges that Mountain Gateway vehemently denies.
“It is heartbreaking to know that people who we consider family are sitting in prison for sharing the Gospel,” said Mountain Gateway President Jon Britton Hancock in a statement released in March.
The Catholic Church’s Strained Relationship with Ortega
Relations between the Nicaraguan government and the Catholic Church have been tense since 2018 when church leaders attempted to mediate between Ortega’s government and anti-government protesters. The protests, which turned violent, resulted in more than 300 civilian deaths, according to rights groups. Since then, the government has arrested or expelled numerous Catholic priests and shut down thousands of civil society organizations, often on accusations of financial misconduct, which many view as a tactic to suppress dissent.
With this latest release of political prisoners, international observers remain cautiously optimistic. However, questions persist about the future of political freedoms in Nicaragua under Ortega’s regime.