My VIP for this week is Joshua Holt.
He served a Spanish-speaking mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. Upon his return, he went online to meet people to whom he
could speak Spanish. He met a woman named Thamara Caleno from Caracas, Venezuela.
A relationship developed between the two of them, and he traveled to her
country in June 2016 to marry her. His plan was to spend a few months in
Caracas, secure visas for his new wife and her two daughters, and bring them back
to the United States.
To
say that Holt’s plan did not work out would be an understatement. Holt and his
new bride were arrested at her family’s apartment on June 30, 2016. He was
accused of stockpiling weapons and being connected with the CIA. Authorities
thought that he was in Venezuela to cause problems.
Numerous
U.S. government officials have attempted to get Holt and his wife released from
prison but had no success. Finally, a miracle happened! It seems that an aide
to Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, had a contact among the allies of Maduro. Even though Holt’s release
seemed unlikely a week ago, Sen. Corker had a “surprise meeting” with
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. One day later Holt and his wife were
released from prison and on their way back to the United States with the
Senator.
The
airplane carrying Sen. Corker, Holt, his wife, and one daughter arrived at
Washington Dulles International Airport on Saturday evening. There they were
met by Holt’s grateful parents. President Trump later welcomed the family to
the White House where Utah Senators Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee and Utah
Representative Mia Love jointed them.
I
join with Holt’s parents and other Americans in welcoming Holt back to the
United States. I am sure that he feels great gratitude in being in the land of
the free once again. I am also grateful that the prayers and actions of his
loving parents have brought such joy into their lives.
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