Diaz-Balart: Our South Florida Hero is Coming Home; Tahmooressi to be Released from Mexican Jail

WASHINGTON — Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement after a spokesperson for the Tahmooressi family confirmed that U.S. Marine Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi was being released from a Mexican jail after seven months of being wrongfully imprisoned.

"I am overjoyed to hear the news of Andrew's release. This Marine Sergeant bravely served his country during two tours of duty in Afghanistan and was unjustly imprisoned for seven months in Mexican jails with deplorable conditions. These last months have been agonizing for his mother Jill and the entire Tahmooressi family. Andrew's release has been long overdue and it is time that he returned to South Florida so that he may reunite with his family and receive proper treatment to help his battle with PTSD. I am grateful that the work my colleagues and I have done to secure Andrew's release has proven to be successful. It is heroes like Andrew that bring great pride and honor to our beautiful country and I thank him for his service."

Diaz-Balart joined House colleagues in writing numerous letters to both American and Mexican heads of state and officials requesting further information about Tahmooressi's imprisonment and in search of ways to achieve his release. Diaz-Balart also co-sponsored House Resolution 620, which called for the Marine Sergeant's immediate release.