After enduring a 20-month detention in Venezuela, Los Angeles resident Eyvin Hernandez has finally returned home. According to a statement from Mayor Karen Bass, the liberation of Hernandez was a combined effort, involving his family, friends, and the relentless intervention of the Biden-Harris administration. Mayor Bass credited the collaboration between her office, Hernandez's colleagues, and the State Department for this triumphant return.
"Eyvin Hernandez landed on U.S. soil this evening thanks to tireless advocacy by his friends and family as well as steadfast leadership by a Biden-Harris Administration," Bass said in a statement on the official mayoral website. The mayor's prior experience as Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Global Human Rights provided a substantial foundation for bridging connections that facilitated Hernandez's eventual departure from Venezuela.
Furthermore, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove received high praise from Mayor Bass for her role in maintaining the momentum of the advocacy for Hernandez's release. Expressing her gratitude, Bass highlighted Kamlager-Dove's effort in making sure that "the voices urging for Eyvin's return continued to be heard."
The mayor, on behalf of Los Angeles, extended a heartfelt welcome to Hernandez. "On behalf of the entire City of Los Angeles, welcome home Eyvin," the mayor's statement concluded.
