On July 18, 2025, Venezuelan families, friends, and political leaders held protests in Madrid, Spain, and Caracas, Venezuela, demanding the release of political prisoners and urging the Vatican to intervene. Demonstrators in Spain also called for the closure of alleged torture centers. Venezuelan communities in Argentina echoed these calls for Vatican mediation. On July 23, reports confirmed the release of a former U.S. marine convicted of a triple murder in Spain, who was freed following a prisoner exchange between Washington and Caracas. The U.S. issued a Level 4 travel advisory for Venezuela amid these developments. Media outlets highlighted concerns about a "revolving door" phenomenon, with new arrests of political prisoners occurring after recent releases. Former OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro described Venezuela's situation as a consolidation of state terror involving detention, torture, and disappearances. Additionally, some freed Venezuelans who had been detained in El Salvador returned home, including a singer and a barber. Spanish media reported on the controversial role of former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in facilitating the prisoner exchange between Nicolás Maduro and Donald Trump. Despite the releases, reports indicate that approximately 20 new political prisoners have been detained since the pact with Washington. A Venezuelan freed from El Salvador called for accountability from Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and former U.S. President Trump, denying allegations against the detainees.