Midvale, UT— Some cases go beyond a settlement. They raise deeper questions about justice, accountability, and the kind of country we strive to be. Parker & McConkie Injury Lawyers has announced the initiation of legal action against the United States government, pursuing a $56 million claim on behalf of a 20-year-old Venezuelan man identified as “Johnny Hernandez” to protect his identity.

According to the firm, Hernandez entered the United States legally on August 22, 2024, alongside four family members who are now residing in Utah. He had no criminal record in either Venezuela or the United States. Despite this, he was detained by U.S. immigration officials in San Diego shortly after arrival.

The claim alleges that Hernandez was later transferred in March 2025 to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) as part of a group of immigrants sent overseas. During his four-month detention, he endured what attorneys describe as catastrophic conditions, including beatings, torture, solitary confinement, and a rubber bullet wound to his shoulder. He was released on July 18, 2025, and returned to Venezuela, where he continues to recover physically and mentally.

“This was not a mistake buried in paperwork,” said attorney Jim McConkie. “An innocent person was knowingly and unlawfully detained and subjected to conditions no human being should ever endure.”

The firm has filed a formal notice of claim against President Donald Trump, as well as multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Departments of State and Justice, along with their agents and employees. The government now has six months to respond. If a satisfactory resolution is not reached, the firm intends to file a federal lawsuit on Hernandez’s behalf.

Attorney Brent Ward, who is also representing Hernandez, emphasized that the case is about both individual harm and broader accountability. He noted that Hernandez is still recovering from the trauma he experienced and that seeking justice is a critical part of that healing process.

The firm stated that when innocent individuals are detained and deported without justification or accountability, it creates risks that extend far beyond a single case.

Parker & McConkie Injury Lawyers reaffirmed its commitment to standing with those failed by the system, emphasizing that everyone deserves strong advocacy—no matter how powerful the opposition.