Del Mar Family Fights for Son Taken as Political Prisoner in Venezuela

Francisco Marquez Lara and his friend, Gabriel San Miguel were arrested on June 19 in Venezuela

A Del Mar family is fighting for their son’s freedom after they say he was taken as a political prisoner in Venezuela.

Francisco Marquez Lara is a dual citizen of the United States and Venezuela. He and his friend, Gabriel San Miguel, were arrested on June 19 while in Venezuela.

Now, his parents, Maria-Luz Lara and Ricardo Marquez, are on a mission to free their son and his friend from jail.

Francisco’s mother spoke exclusively to NBC 7 on Friday about their fight and the emotional toll the capture of their son has taken on them.

“I have to say, I broke. I couldn’t stand it, this is so unfair,” Maria said.

The mother told NBC 7 her son is a graduate of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and works as a lawyer and an activist. He was also the Chief of Staff to the Mayor of El Hatillo in Venezuela.

At the time of their arrest, Francisco and San Miguel were traveling through Cojedes, Venezuela, to get recall signatures to oust President Nicolas Maduro, who is facing backlash over inflation and food shortages.

They were halted at a checkpoint and arrested for carrying political pamphlets and $3,000 worth of Bolivars, the currency used in Venezuela.

“We’re in dictatorship with facade of democracy. There is no media,” Maria said, speaking of the Venezuelan government.

The money the men were carrying was being used to help fund their mission.

But despite the hardship of being away from her son, Maria says she is proud of him.

“We come from a family of three generations of fighting against dictatorships,” she said. “He inherited that thirst for making things right.”

Maria says Francisco and Gabriel’s initial court appearance was cancelled without explanation and they don't have access to anyone, including lawyers and family. Both men also keep getting moved to different prisons.

She says they are really worried and that Francisco’s safety is not guaranteed.

Maria is scheduled to fly to Venezuela Saturday in hopes of being able to free her son.

U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said they are aware of the reports of Francisco and Gabriel’s arrest.

"The Department of State takes its obligation to assist U.S. citizens abroad seriously. We provide all possible consular assistance whenever a U.S. citizen is detained abroad," he said. "As in any country where a U.S. citizen has been detained, we expect the Government of Venezuela to accord any U.S. citizen the full extent of his rights to due process under international and Venezuelan law."

But Francisco's family says the Venezuelan government is not doing that.

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