Resolution 2019-31100 RESOLUTION NO.' 2019-31100
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION AND U.S. CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TO
DENOUNCE THE HONDURAN GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT
JUAN JOSE ORLANDO HERNANDEZ FOR OPERATING AS A
NARCO-STATE AND FOR CORRUPTION; URGING THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION TO DISCONTINUE MILITARY FOREIGN AID
TO HONDURAS; AND FURTHER URGING THE U.S.
CONGRESS TO HOLD OVERSIGHT HEARINGS TO HOLD
PRESIDENT HERNANDEZ ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS ACTIONS.
WHEREAS, Juan Jose Orlando Hernández Alvarado ("President Hernández") is the
current president of Honduras, who assumed office on January 27, 2014, after winning the 2013
Honduran general election; and
WHEREAS, President Hernández began his second presidential term on January 27,
2018 after he was re-elected in a fraud-marred vote in 2017, using a contentious 2016 supreme
court ruling to justify his bid for a second term in power, despite the constitution prohibiting re-
election of sitting or former leaders; and
WHEREAS, despite objections from the European Union, the Organization of American
States and dozens of American lawmakers, and push for recount, the Trump Administration
congratulated Mr. Hernández on his disputed reelection and recognized his legitimacy as
president of Honduras; and
WHEREAS, the fraud-marred election resulted in civil unrest, during which 30
demonstrators were killed and more than 800 arrested many of which, according to the United
Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, were transferred to military
installations, where they were brutally beaten, insulted, and sometimes tortured; and
WHEREAS, at the end of May 2019, President Hernández was identified as a co-
conspirator in a drug trafficking and money laundering case against his brother, Antonio "Tony"
Hernandez, according to document filed in U.S. district court; and
WHEREAS, the 49-page document summarized some of the key evidence collected by
prosecutors against the defendant, who they accuse of being a "violent, multi-ton drug trafficker"
who allegedly abused his political connections for personal and political gain and at least twice
"helped arrange murders of drug trafficking rivals"; and
WHEREAS, it further revealed that Mr. Hernández accepted approximately $1.5 million
cocaine profits for his 2013 campaign, including a $1,000,000 bribe from the infamous Joaquin
"El Chapo" Guzman, and alleged that the Honduran government essentially functions as a narco-
state; and
WHEREAS, nationwide demonstrations against President Hernandez's corrupt practices,
and attempts to privatize education and health care have trailed the president since April 2019,
to which the army has responded with tear gas and live fire to disperse dissenters; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission of Miami Beach believe that the U.S.
government must send a strong message that United States does not stand for drug corruption
and authoritarianism in Honduras and Central America; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. government has already done so by imposing a full economic
embargo on the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro in August of 2019; and
WHEREAS, four major principal reasons to justify the imposition of harsh economic
sanctions against Venezuelan government were: drug trafficking, violation of democratic norms,
violation of human rights and widespread corruption; and
WHEREAS, all four principal reasons could well be cited to justify measures against
Honduran government of President Hernández just as well; and
WHEREAS, as such, the Mayor and City Commission urge President Trump and U.S.
congressional leaders to publicly denounce the current Honduran Administration as one of narco-
state; and
WHEREAS, U.S. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, set a precedent on a visit to
Honduras in August when she declined an invitation to meet with President Hernández; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission further urge the Trump Administration to
reduce U.S. foreign military aid to Honduras in its entirety but continue providing economic and
humanitarian aid to Honduras in order to support programs that are advancing U.S. and Honduran
joint efforts to mitigate illegal immigration from Honduras to U.S. borders; and
WHEREAS, furthermore, the U.S. Congress should hold oversight hearings that shine
light on President Hernandez's bad behavior and hold President Hernández accountable for
corruption; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby urge the Trump Administration and U.S. Congressional leaders to denounce
the Honduran government of President Juan Jose Orlando Hernandez for operating as a narco-
state and for corruption; urging the Trump Administration to discontinue military foreign aid to
Honduras; and further urging the U.S. Congress to hold oversight hearings to hold President
Hernández accountable for his actions.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this /1 day of Decr1416er , 2019.
ATTEST:
,....2
Dan Gelber, Mayor
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
(Sponsored by Commissioner Michael Gongora)
APPROVED AS TO
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City Attorney Date
Resolutions -C7 T
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Raul J.Aguila, City Attorney
DATE: December 11, 2019
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
AND U.S. CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TO DENOUNCE THE HONDURAN
GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT JUAN JOSE ORLANDO HERNANDEZ
FOR OPERATING AS A NARCO-STATE AND FOR CORRUPTION; URGING
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO DISCONTINUE MILITARY FOREIGN
AID TO HONDURAS; AND FURTHER URGING THE U.S. CONGRESS TO
HOLD OVERSIGHT HEARINGS TO HOLD PRESIDENT HERNANDEZ
ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS ACTIONS.
ANALYSIS
Pursuant to the request of Commissioner Michael Gongora, the attached Resolution is
submitted for consideration by the City Commission
Applicable Area
Citywide
Is this a Resident Right to Does this item utilize G.O.
Know item? Bond Funds?
No No
Legislative Tracking
Office of the City Attorney
Sponsor
Commissioner Michael Gongora
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
D Resolution
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