WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) joined 40 Members of Congress in sending a letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, urging him to use all diplomatic means to ensure Mr. Paul Rusesabagina’s return to the United States. Paul Rusesabagina is a Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree and U.S Lawful Permanent Resident who lives in San Antonio. He is currently being held in continued detention by the Rwandan government. In 1994, Rusesabagina was the manager of a hotel that sheltered 1,268 Hutu and Tutsi refugees during the Rwandan genocide. His story inspired the film Hotel Rwanda.

Read the full text of the letter here.

“We continue to have serious concerns with the extrajudicial means used by the Rwandan government to detain Mr. Rusesabagina and reports from his family and his Foundation that the Rwandan government is refusing to grant him access to international counsel, as well as the ongoing violations of attorney-client privilege with his local legal team,” said the letter. “Instead, the authorities have reportedly confined him to his prison cell for twenty-three hours a day and continue to deny him necessary prescription medicine. Several of us have met with members of his family and supporters who have reported that Mr. Rusesabagina was subjected to severe physical abuse during periods of interrogation.”

“The Department of State must use all diplomatic powers to return Mr. Rusesabagina home to the United States,” said Congressman Gonzales. “The Biden Administration committed to ensuring that Rwanda would conduct Mr. Rusesabagina’s trial fairly and transparently. With concerning reports coming out of poor conditions and abuse against him, it should be assumed he will not be granted a fair trial and all measures should be taken to ensure he returns home.”