LOS ANGELES—Eyvin Hernandez, a Los Angeles County public defender who had been imprisoned in Venezuela since March 2022, is back in the United States Dec. 21 as part of a sweeping prisoner exchange announced by the White House.
“All you think about when you’re in prison is how you didn’t appreciate being free while you were free,” Mr. Hernandez told an interviewer Wednesday night, minutes after he and five other freed Americans landed at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas.
“There’s no way to understand what it’s like to be in prison unjustly and not have any way out.”
President Joe Biden said a total of 10 Americans who had been detained in Venezuela were released as part of the deal, including six “wrongfully detained Americans.”
“These individuals have lost far too much precious time with their loved ones, and their families have suffered every day in their absence,” President Biden said in a statement. “I am grateful that their ordeal is finally over, and that these families are being made whole once more.”
Mr. Hernandez was among those released in the exchange, which also included the extradition of convicted military contractor Leonard Glenn “Fat Leonard” Francis, who escaped home arrest in San Diego last year after pleading guilty to bribing Navy officials.
“On behalf of Eyvin Hernandez, his family and friends, we are happy to confirm that he has been released by Venezuela and will shortly touch down on U.S. soil,” Mr. Hernandez’s family said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
“He has been wrongfully detained since March of 2022. For over 21 months, he has endured horrible conditions and abuse. We were notified this morning that Eyvin was on his way home—an early Christmas present for our family.
“Our first priority is to ensure that he gets the medical support he needs so that he can recover from his time in captivity. He will talk about his experience when he is ready. For now, we want to thank everyone who helped obtain Eyvin’s release.”
The family added, “Even as we celebrate Eyvin’s release, we remember all of the Americans who remain wrongfully detained abroad and we hold close to our hearts a wish that they are all returned to their families as soon as possible.”
