HJ 820 — Commending Luis A. Rivas Anduray.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 23107238D I HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

820 OfferedE February 20, 2023 N Commending Luis A.

TN Patron––Tata R ––––––––––AgreedAgreed to by the Senate, February 23, 2023, 2023 O WHEREAS, Luis A.

Rivas Anduray first came to the United States as a political asylee in 1987O1987 L from Nicaragua during a time of great unrest under the Sandinista regime, which installed an 11Dyear11-year dictatorshipL dicWHEREAS, Rivas Anduray, valuing the principles of freedom and democracy, received his residency E in Nicaragua;the United States and obtained a doctorate in economics from Cornell University before returning to Nicaragua to work as an economic advisor to the democratic government of President Enrique Bolanos;

D and WHEREAS, most of Rivas Anduray,Anduray's valuingfamily stayed in the principlesUnited ofStates freedomwhere andthey democracy,eventually receivedbecWHEREAS, hisRivas residencyAnduray's indecision theto Unitedreturn Statesto andNicaragua obtainedwas out of a doctoratedeep inand economicsabiding fromlove Cornellfor Universityhis beforenative returCinghomeland toand Nicaraguaa desire to workcontribute asto anNicaragua's economic advisorand tosocial development under the democratic governmentleadership of President Enrique Bolanos;

andWHEREAS,and mostWHEREAS, ofafter returning to Nicaragua, Rivas Anduray'sAnduray familyplayed stayeda key role in the Uniteddevelopment Statesof whereH theyNicWHEREAS, eventuallyRivas Anduray served as the chief executive officer of Nicaragua's largest bank for 15 2 years and then moved on to lead a large banking conglomerate known for its focus on innovation and E becametechnology citizens;along with its commitment to social responsibility and sustainability;

and DR WHEREAS, Rivasbeginning Anduray'sin decision2018, toNicaragua returnfaced toa Nicaraguasocial wasand outpolitical ofcrisis, which ultimately culminated in a deepviolent andresponse abidingfrom lovethe forgovernment, hisresulting nativein homelandthe anddetention aof desirethousands toof contributecitWHEREAS, toas Nicaragua'sthe economic2021 presidential election was approaching, the Nicaraguan government arrested all presidential candidates and socialother developmentleaders underfrom the democraticpolitical leadershipopposition ofas Presidentwell Bolanos;as private sector leaders;

and WHEREAS, after returning to Nicaragua, Rivas Anduray played a key role in the development of Nicaragua's banking industry as an economic advisor to President Bolanos;

and WHEREAS, Rivas Anduray served as the chief executive officer of Nicaragua's largest bank for 15 technology along with its commitment to social responsibility and sustainability;

andnnovation and WHEREAS, beginning in 2018, Nicaragua faced a social and political crisis, which ultimately J culminated in a violent response from the government, resulting in the detention of thousands of citizens, including opposition leaders, activists, journalists, and students;

and 0 WHEREAS, as the 2021 presidential election was approaching, the Nicaraguan government arrested all presidential candidates and other leaders from the political opposition as well as private sector leaders;

and 35 WHEREAS, the Nicaraguan government had denied the existence of political prisoners, claiming that 36and thosecontinued into custodypressure hadthe brokenNicaraguan thegovernment law;to release political prisoners and respect humanent rights;

internationaland organizationsWHEREAS, andafter governmentsprolonged rejecteddiscussions, thisthe argumentNicaraguan 37government andfinally continuedreleased over 200 political prisoners, who were delivered to pressurethe United States following an unprecedented operation by the Nicaraguanhumanitarian governmentparole to releaseobtain political prisonersasylum andby respectthe humanUnited 38States; rights;

andandray, politicalwho prisoners,was whogranted wereWHEREAS, deliveredimmediately tofollowing their release, the UnitedNicaraguan Statesgovernment followingaltered anthe unprecedentedconstitution operationto bystrip thethese U.S.individuals, including Rivas Anduray, of their nationality and confiscate all their property;

Departmentand WHEREAS, despite this prolonged detainment and mistreatment, Rivas Anduray continues to have a deeRESOLVED by the House of State;Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Luis A.

among these political prisoners was Rivas Anduray, who was granted humanitarian parole to obtain political asylum by the United States;

and WHEREAS, immediately following their release, the Nicaraguan government altered the constitution to strip these individuals, including Rivas Anduray, of their nationality and confiscate all their property;

and WHEREAS, despite this prolonged detainment and mistreatment, Rivas Anduray continues to have a deep and abiding commitment to his native homeland;

now, therefore, be it commend Luis A.

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution fordedication presentation to Luisfreedom A.and democratic values.

Rivas Anduray as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his dedication to freedom and democratic values.