The Los Angeles City Council has unanimously approved two motions urging President Joe Biden and the State Department to take immediate action to secure the release of Eyvin Hernandez, a veteran public defender from Southern California who is currently imprisoned in Venezuela.
Eyvin Hernandez has been a dedicated deputy public defender in Los Angeles County for over 15 years. During a vacation in Colombia in late March 2022, Hernandez accompanied a friend to the Colombian-Venezuelan border in order to resolve a passport issue that his friend was facing in Venezuela.
Unfortunately, at the border, Hernandez and his friend were intercepted by either a paramilitary group, a gang, or Venezuelan security forces, as reported differently in various sources. Subsequently, they were handed over to the Venezuelan authorities and taken to a highly secure prison in Caracas.
Hernandez now faces charges of criminal association and conspiracy, offenses that carry a maximum sentence of 16 years in Venezuela.
Both Councilwomen Eunisses Hernandez and Katy Yaroslavsky are personally acquainted with Eyvin Hernandez. Councilwoman Hernandez presented the motion addressed to the State Department, while Councilwoman Yaroslavsky introduced the motion aimed at President Biden.
Councilwoman Hernandez expressed her admiration for Hernandez’s commitment to serving and advocating for vulnerable residents as an L.A. County public defender. She emphasized the urgency of his situation and urged the federal government to use all available means to bring him home safely and promptly.
Councilwoman Yaroslavsky shared that she had the opportunity to build a close relationship with Eyvin Hernandez during their time together in law school at UCLA. She attested to his impeccable character and expressed shock at the circumstances he is currently facing. Yaroslavsky also acknowledged the presence of Hernandez’s family and friends, who are united in support of his cause.
Henry Martinez, Hernandez’s younger brother, spoke about the harsh conditions his brother has endured during his 14 and a half months of imprisonment in Venezuela. He appealed to all members of the city council to go the extra mile and reach out to the Biden administration, urging them to utilize all available resources and tools to secure Hernandez’s swift return to the United States.
Last December, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán, and other congressional representatives collectively wrote a letter to President Biden, urging him to prioritize the release of Eyvin Hernandez.
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