[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 130 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3769-S3770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 320--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

  Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mrs. Feinstein) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 320

       Whereas, since 2006, Eyvin Hernandez has been a public 
     defender for Los Angeles County, dedicating his career to 
     representing the most vulnerable people in the county;
       Whereas Eyvin Hernandez 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 Hernandez 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 to participate in the Los 
     Angeles County Public Defender's Union, Local

[[Page S3770]]

     148, where he previously served on the board of directors;
       Whereas Eyvin Hernandez is an alumnus of the UCLA School of 
     Law and of El Camino College, UCLA, where he majored in 
     physics and mathematics;
       Whereas Eyvin Hernandez'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 Herndandez 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 Hernandez 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 those allegations nor to 
     hold trial proceedings to adjudicate his case, highlighting 
     the fabricated grounds for Eyvin Hernandez's detention;
       Whereas Eyvin Hernandez was not included in the October 
     2022 prisoner exchange that allowed 7 Americans imprisoned in 
     Venezuela to return home to the United States;
       Whereas, on October 21, 2022, the Department of State 
     designated Eyvin Hernandez as wrongfully detained;
       Whereas, in June 2023, the Special Presidential Envoy for 
     Hostage Affairs attempted to secure Eyvin Hernandez's release 
     during a visit to Caracas;
       Whereas, even in prison, Eyvin Hernandez 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 officials of the Department of State;
       Whereas the Los Angeles County community, including Eyvin 
     Hernandez'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: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) calls on the Venezuelan regime to immediately release 
     Eyvin Hernandez from unjust imprisonment;
       (2) urges all officials of the executive branch of the 
     United States, 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 use all the tools at the disposal of the 
     executive branch to secure the immediate release of Eyvin 
     Hernandez;
       (3) condemns the Venezuelan regime's continued use of 
     detentions of citizens and lawful permanent residents of the 
     United States for political purposes;
       (4) expresses continued support for all citizens and lawful 
     permanent residents of the United States wrongfully detained 
     in Venezuela, along with all other citizens and lawful 
     permanent residents of the United States 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.

                          ____________________