The Los Angeles City Council Wednesday approved two related motions that call on President Joe Biden and the State Department to take any actions necessary to secure the freedom of a Southland public defender imprisoned in Venezuela.
Today we unanimously passed resolutions introduced by myself and @cd5losangeles urging the President, Vice President and federal agencies to do everything in their power to secure Eyvin Hernandez's release. pic.twitter.com/9FtE0X2wNj
— Eunisses Hernandez (@EunissesH) June 14, 2023
Eyvin Hernandez has been a Los Angeles County deputy public defender for 15 years. While on vacation in Colombia in late March 2022, Hernandez joined a friend on a trip to the Colombian-Venezuelan border to resolve a passport issue involving the friend’s stay in Venezuela.
At the border, Hernandez and his friend were intercepted by what has been described in various reports as either a paramilitary group, a gang or official Venezuelan forces. Hernandez and his friend were eventually turned over to Venezuelan security forces and jailed in a maximum security prison in Caracas.
At @HouseForeign markup this week, I called for the release of my constituent, Eyvin Hernandez, who has been wrongfully detained in Venezuela for over a year. Eyvin has not been forgotten, and we will not rest until he is home safe with his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/euNSRWSWu4
— Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (@RepKamlagerDove) May 19, 2023
Hernandez is accused of criminal association and conspiracy, which are punishable with up to 16 years in jail in Venezuela.
Both councilwomen Eunisses Hernandez and Katy Yaroslavsky know Eyvin Hernandez. Eunisses Hernandez introduced the motion that is directed at the State Department, while Yaroslavsky introduced the motion aimed at Biden.
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https://abc7.com/lawyer-detained-venezuela-jail-los-angeles-city-council-eyvin-hernandez/13384301/
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/president-biden-free-eyvin-hernandez/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyvin_Hernandez
USA: LA City Council calls on Biden to secure release of LA attorney imprisoned in Venezuela
