“The staff are disgusted.”Renato Stabile, the court-appointed lawyer representing Hernández — who has long maintained his innocence — said his client’s treatment was appropriate. ICE referred all questions to the White House, which responded with a link to a November social media post announcing the President’s intent to pardon Hernández. Like Trump, Hernández was a member of his country’s right-wing party. “I read the letter and then did my own research and elected to send the letter to President Trump,” Stone wrote. On Dec. 1 — while the votes were still being counted in Honduras — Trump posted again on Truth Social in support of Asfura.

Source: New York Times February 18, 2026 15:27 UTC