Sen. Nelson demands the release of former Marine being held in Mexican prison

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) called for the immediate release of a former U.S. Marine being held in a Mexican prison.

Nelson said Florida resident Johnny Hammar and his friend were trying to take a surfing trip when they were arrested after crossing the border. He said Hammar checked with U.S. customs to see if he was allowed to bring his grandfather’s shotgun along in his camper. When he showed it to Mexican border officials he and his companion were arrested.

“This has gone on long enough,” Nelson said on the floor Tuesday. “If it is against the law to take a gun in even though he had already declared it at U.S. customs ... they could have released him and said don’t bring your grandfather’s gun into Mexico if that’s Mexican law.”

Nelson said Hammar’s friend was released but that Hammar is still being held and interrogated by the Mexican police, who sometimes even chain him to his bed.

Nelson said his phone calls to the U.S. Mexican ambassador are not being returned and that he will do everything he can to get Hammar back into the United States.

“I can’t get a returned call from the Mexican ambassador,” Nelson said. “You have made a bureaucratic mistake.”

Nelson warned that, because the Mexican government recently elected a new president, this is a time when the country should be building its relationship with the United States, not mistreating a former U.S. Marine.

Hammar, 27, was arrested on the Mexican side of the Los Indios Free Trade Bridge in August, but recent news reports have drawn more attention to his situation.

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