President Donald Trump has demanded that Venezuela accept the return of all prisoners and individuals from mental institutions he claims have been forced into the United States, threatening an “incalculable” price if the country fails to comply. In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump repeated his unsubstantiated claim that Venezuelan leadership has been emptying its prisons and mental health facilities and sending the inmates to the U.S.
“We want Venezuela to immediately accept all of the prisoners, and people from mental institutions, which includes the Worst in the World Insane Asylums, that Venezuelan ‘Leadership’ has forced into the United States of America,” Trump wrote. “Thousands of people have been badly hurt, and even killed, by these ‘Monsters.’ GET THEM THE HELL OUT OF OUR COUNTRY, RIGHT NOW, OR THE PRICE YOU PAY WILL BE INCALCULABLE!”
Critics have mocked Trump’s remarks, suggesting he misunderstands the term “asylum.” Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger posted on X: “He STILL thinks asylum seekers are people from insane asylums.” Journalist Michael Weiss also commented, noting Trump’s confusion between the primary and secondary definitions of asylum.
Trump has made such claims more than 500 times over the years, according to the nonprofit fact-checking outlet The Marshall Project. However, Roberto Briceño-León, founder of the Venezuelan Observatory of Violence, told CNN last year that there is “no evidence” that Venezuela is emptying its prisons or mental health institutions to send people to the U.S.
The demand comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries after Trump ordered three military strikes in one month on alleged Venezuelan drug vessels. The most recent strike, announced on Friday, killed three men in international waters, according to Trump. Venezuela has responded by launching three days of large-scale military exercises in the Caribbean.
