A Utah-based personal injury lawfirm introduced a lawsuit on Tuesday alleging the United States governmentToday, the law firm of Parker and McConkie is filing
FILE - Prison guards stand outside holding cells during a media tour of the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, in Tecoluca, El Salvador, Feb. 2, 2023. A Utah-based personal injury law firm introduced a lawsuit against the U.
S. government over the alleged torture of a Venezuelan in an El Savador prison. Parker and McConkie said their client - known publicly only under the pseudonym Johnny Hernandez - was in the United States legally. Jim McConkie emphasized Hernandez had no criminal record in the U.S. or in Venezuela. Yet, the law firm claims Hernandez was unlawfully detained by ICE and summarily deported to an El Salvadoran prison known as CECOT - a maximum security mega prison capable of holding up to 40,000 people.ICE asks Utah jail to hold suspect beyond local charges in attempted murder caseNewly purchased ICE detention facility to provide 10k jobs, over $1 billion to economyMcConkie added that Hernandez entered the U.S. legally to escape threats of violence from the Venezuelan government for their opposition against President Nicolás Maduro. "The Trump Administration knowingly and unlawfully locked up an innocent person for four months in a concentration camp-like prison, where he suffered torture, shooting, beatings and solitary confinement," said McConkie.Richard Lambert, a current member of Parker and McConkie and former Criminal Division Chief in the U.S. Attorney's Office, said the case is vitally important to Utah - where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently announced plans to open a detention facility. "ICE now proposed to incarcerate 7,000 to 10,000 people in a megaprison in Utah," said Lambert. "The vast majority of inmates there will be people who are innocent of any serious crime. Such a facility invites CECOT kinds of abuses." The lawsuit seeks to recover $56 million in damages for personal injuries Hernandez allegedly suffered while at the CECOT prison in El Salvador. "Our client suffered catastrophic injuries in CECOT from which he will never fully recover," said McConkie. "Failing to demand accountability now places all Americans in jeopardy in the future."The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced changes to its class meeting schedule.Starting on Sept. 6,Sunday School, Relief Society, Elders QuoruTwo people were injured and two others were killed after a shooting during a domestic violence incident in Kearns.Unified Police Sgt. Aymee Race said officersThe Washington County District Attorney’s Office said Sheriff Nate Brooksby submitted his resignation hours after meeting with the commissioners’ office to addrE-bikes have become a growing problem for cities. Now, a new law taking effect in May 2026 aims to crack down.From speeding to reckless driving and property damWashington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby submitted his resignation and announced his retirement late last week.The Washington County Sheriff's Office said Brook
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Will Hardy Gives Huge Credit to Underrated Utah Jazz VeteranThe Utah Jazz head coach made sure to highlight one underrated piece of his rotation following a tough loss to the Phoenix Suns.
Read more »
Deputies investigate possible human remains found in remote area of Utah CountyPossible human remains were found in a remote area of Utah County, prompting an investigation.Sgt. Raymond Ormond with the Utah County Sheriff's Office said the
Read more »
How UVU and Loveland Living Planet Aquarium are partnering to boost oceanography in UtahJason Swensen is a Deseret News staff writer on the Politics and the West team. He has won multiple awards from the Utah Society of Professional Journalists. Swensen was raised in the Beehive State and graduated from the University of Utah. He is a husband and father — and has a stack of novels and sports biographies cluttering his nightstand.
Read more »
Funeral for CFD firefighter Michael Altman planned for Tuesday after being postponedFuneral for CFD firefighter Michael Altman planned for Tuesday after being postponed
Read more »
3 Utah students chosen for honor ensembles in national music festivalCassidy Wixom is an award-winning reporter for KSL. She covers Utah County communities, arts and entertainment, and breaking news. Cassidy graduated from BYU before joining KSL in 2022.
Read more »
Watch live: Utah lawyers pursue $56M suit on behalf of Venezuelan sent to Salvadoran prisonTim Vandenack covers immigration, multicultural issues and Northern Utah for KSL. He worked several years for the Standard-Examiner in Ogden and has lived and reported in Mexico, Chile and along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Read more »