Venezuela’s leader has described the deportation of more than 200 migrants sent by the United States to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador as a “kidnapping,” and denied they are criminals while backing calls for their return.

Over the past weekend, the Trump administration deported Venezuelans it accused of being members of the feared Tren de Aragua gang to a mega prison in El Salvador. Family members and attorneys of many of those detained have denied that their loved ones have any gang affiliation.