[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 578 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 578

 Calling for the immediate release of Eyvin Hernandez, a United States 
  citizen and Los Angeles County public defender, who was wrongfully 
            detained by the Venezuelan regime in March 2022.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 11, 2023

 Ms. Kamlager-Dove (for herself, Mrs. Kim of California, Mr. Castro of 
Texas, and Ms. Barragan) submitted the following resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Calling for the immediate release of Eyvin Hernandez, a United States 
  citizen and Los Angeles County public defender, who was wrongfully 
            detained by the Venezuelan regime in March 2022.

Whereas Eyvin Hernandez has been a public defender for Los Angeles County since 
        2006, dedicating his career to representing the most vulnerable people 
        in the county;
Whereas Eyvin is a man of impeccable character and a beloved member of his 
        community, admired by many who know him for his deep devotion to 
        justice, respect for humanity, willingness to help others, patience, 
        kindness, and intellect;
Whereas Eyvin has volunteered his time to advocate for children in the juvenile 
        justice system, to mentor aspiring young lawyers through the Latina 
        Lawyer Bar Association and the University of California, Los Angeles 
        (UCLA) Law Fellows Program, and participate in the Los Angeles County 
        Public Defender's Union, Local 148, where he previously served on the 
        board of directors;
Whereas Eyvin Hernandez is an alumnus of the UCLA School of Law, where he was 
        associate editor for the Chicanx-Latinx Law Review, and of El Camino 
        College, UCLA, where he majored in physics and mathematics;
Whereas Eyvin's family immigrated to the United States when he was a toddler, 
        fleeing the civil war in El Salvador and seeking a better life;
Whereas, on March 31, 2022, Eyvin Hernandez was captured by armed, masked men in 
        the vicinity of the Colombia-Venezuela border, and, once his United 
        States citizenship was discovered, was transferred to Venezuela and 
        detained;
Whereas the Venezuelan regime charged Eyvin with criminal association and 
        conspiracy, which could lead to 16 years of imprisonment;
Whereas there has been no serious effort to provide legitimate evidence to 
        corroborate these allegations nor to hold trial proceedings to 
        adjudicate his case, highlighting the fabricated grounds for Eyvin's 
        detention;
Whereas Eyvin was not included in the October 2022 prisoner exchange that 
        allowed 7 Americans imprisoned in Venezuela to return home to the United 
        States;
Whereas the Department of State designated Eyvin Hernandez as wrongfully 
        detained on October 21, 2022;
Whereas the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs attempted to secure 
        Eyvin's release during his visit to Caracas in June 2023;
Whereas, even in prison, Eyvin has served as an advocate for his fellow detained 
        Americans, translating their needs to the guards in Spanish and helping 
        them articulate their cases to Department of State officials;
Whereas the Los Angeles County community, including Eyvin's former mentees, 
        colleagues, classmates, friends, and family, have created a coalition to 
        advocate for his release, highlight the arbitrary and unjust nature of 
        his detention, and continue fighting to bring him home; and
Whereas Eyvin Hernandez is a valued citizen of the city of Los Angeles, the 
        State of California, and the United States of America: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) calls on the Venezuelan regime to immediately release 
        Eyvin Hernandez from unjust imprisonment;
            (2) urges all United States executive branch officials, 
        including President Joseph R. Biden, Secretary of State Antony 
        Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and Special 
        Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, to 
        continue raising the case of Eyvin Hernandez with the 
        Venezuelan regime and pressing for his immediate release;
            (3) condemns the Venezuelan regime's continued use of 
        detentions of United States citizens and lawful permanent 
        residents for political purposes;
            (4) expresses continued support for all American citizens 
        and lawful permanent residents wrongfully detained in 
        Venezuela, along with all other American citizens and lawful 
        permanent residents wrongfully detained abroad; and
            (5) expresses solidarity with and sympathy for Eyvin 
        Hernandez, his friends and family, and those advocating for his 
        immediate release, for the personal hardship experienced as a 
        result of the arbitrary and baseless detention of their loved 
        one.
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