HR 11
Page 1
Date of Hearing: February 2, 2023
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
James Ramos, Chair
HR 11 (Bryan) – As Introduced February 1, 2023
SUBJECT: The release of Eyvin Hernandez.
SUMMARY: Calls on President Joseph Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, National Security
Advisor Jacob Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Special Envoy for Hostage
Affairs Roger Carstens, to act with urgency and negotiate for Mr. Hernandez’s release, and
protect his well-being. And, calls on the entire California congressional delegation to work
toward his release and to speak up for Mr. Hernandez, as appropriate. Specifically, this
resolution makes the following legislative findings:
1) Eyvin Hernandez was captured by armed and masked men in the vicinity of the Colombia-
Venezuela border on March 31, 2022, after he was not able to pay a $100 bribe the armed
men requested, and after his kidnappers learned of his United States citizenship and accused
him of being a spy.
2) Mr. Hernandez is currently being held in a maximum security prison, the General Directorate
of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM) in Caracas, Venezuela, where other United States
nationals and Venezuelan political prisoners are imprisoned.
3) The Venezuelan government has charged Mr. Hernandez with criminal association and
conspiracy, which could result in up to 16 years in prison. The United States Department of
State, on October 21, 2022, designated Mr. Hernandez as wrongfully detained, and the
Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs has been assigned Mr. Hernandez’s case.
4) Mr. Hernandez has worked for the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office since 2006,
representing the most vulnerable people in the county who are homeless, and living with
mental health and substance abuse issues.
5) Mr. Hernandez has volunteered his time to advocate for children in the juvenile justice
system, was a mentor for the UCLA Law Fellows Program to encourage students from
diverse backgrounds to apply to and attend law school, and was a mentor for the Latina
Lawyer Bar Association.
6) Mr. Hernandez has always made himself available to help others, whether they be family,
friends, friends of friends, and absolute strangers, and the imprints that Mr. Hernandez has
made on the Los Angeles community and the state are many and deeply impactful.
7) Mr. Hernandez is a dearly loved son, brother, uncle, friend, colleague, and valued member of
the State of California. The Assembly stands in solidarity with Eyvin Hernandez, his friends
and family, the Los Angeles community, and the people of the state in advocating for his
immediate release.
FISCAL EFFECT: None
 HR 11
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REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Michael Erke / RLS. / (916) 319-2800