Trump’s announcement of sanctions against Venezuela calls for release of imprisoned Utahn Josh Holt

(Holt family photo via AP) In this image provided by the Holt family, Joshua Holt, his wife, Thamara, and her daughter, board a plane at the airport in Caracas, Venezuela, on Saturday, May 26, 2018. Jailed in Venezuela on weapons charges nearly two years ago, Holt was released Saturday after a U.S. senator pressed for his freedom in a surprise meeting with President Nicolas Maduro. Holt and his wife, who also jailed, were reunited with her daughter from a previous relationship at Caracas’ airport where the three boarded a chartered flight to Washington.

(Holt family photo via AP) In this image provided by the Holt family, Joshua Holt poses for a photo with his wife, Thamara, and her daughter, at the airport in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, May 26, 2018. Jailed in Venezuela on weapons charges nearly two years ago, Holt was released Saturday after a U.S. senator pressed for his freedom in a surprise meeting with President Nicolas Maduro. Holt and his wife, who also jailed, were reunited with her daughter from a previous relationship at Caracas’ airport where the three boarded a chartered flight to Washington.

(Miraflores Presidential Press Office via AP) In this photo released by the Miraflores Presidential Press Office, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, left, shakes hands with Republican Senator Bob Corker during a meeting at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday May 25, 2018. The Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro two days after the embattled socialist leader kicked out the top U.S. diplomat in the country. There was no immediate comment from Republican Senator Bob Corker's office about the nature of the surprise visit.

FILE - This July 13, 2016, file photo, Laurie Holt holds a photograph of her son Josh Holt at her home in Riverton, Utah. Venezuelan authorities on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, presented what they said are new details in the case against Josh Holt being held on weapons charges. Holt traveled to Venezuela last month on a tourist visa to marry a fellow Mormon he met on the internet. At the time of the arrest June 30, Holt's new wife, Thamara Caleno, was waiting for a U.S. visa so the pair could travel to his home in a suburb of Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

$Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune "He's suffering right now and they won't treat him," said Laurie Holt about the condition of her son, Josh Holt, as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his prison bunk bed. With her husband Jason Holt, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, and her attorney Carlos Trujillo at her side, Holt said Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested onÊJune 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.$

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune "He's suffering right now and they won't treat him," said Laurie Holt about the condition of her son, Josh Holt, as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his prison bunk bed. With her husband Jason Holt, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, and her attorney Carlos Trujillo at her side, Holt said Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested onÊJune 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.

$Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune "We do feel powerless," said Jason Holt about the condition of his son, Josh Holt, as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his prison bunk bed and the family's efforts to bring him home. With U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch by their side, Laurie and Jason Holt said their son Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested onÊJune 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.$

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune "We do feel powerless," said Jason Holt about the condition of his son, Josh Holt, as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his prison bunk bed and the family's efforts to bring him home. With U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch by their side, Laurie and Jason Holt said their son Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested onÊJune 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.

$Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune "He's suffering right now and they won't treat him," said Laurie Holt about the condition of her son, Josh Holt, as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his prison bunk bed. With U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch at her side, Holt said Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested onÊJune 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.$

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune "He's suffering right now and they won't treat him," said Laurie Holt about the condition of her son, Josh Holt, as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his prison bunk bed. With U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch at her side, Holt said Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested onÊJune 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.

$Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Siblings Derek and Katie Holt fear for their brother, Josh Holt, who is suffering as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his Venezuelan prison bunk bed. The family knows Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested onÊJune 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.$

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Siblings Derek and Katie Holt fear for their brother, Josh Holt, who is suffering as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his Venezuelan prison bunk bed. The family knows Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested onÊJune 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.

$Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Siblings Derek, Katie and Jenna Holt fear for their brother, Josh Holt, who is suffering as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his Venezuelan prison bunk bed. The family knows Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested onÊJune 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.$

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Siblings Derek, Katie and Jenna Holt fear for their brother, Josh Holt, who is suffering as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his Venezuelan prison bunk bed. The family knows Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested onÊJune 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.

$Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Jenna Holt fears for her brother, Josh Holt, who is suffering as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his Venezuelan prison bunk bed. The family knows Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested onÊJune 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.$

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Jenna Holt fears for her brother, Josh Holt, who is suffering as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his Venezuelan prison bunk bed. The family knows Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested onÊJune 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Kelly Perry tries to comfort her sister-in-law, Laurie Holt, who fears for the life of her son Josh Holt, who has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison and is now severely injured after a fall. Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested onÊJune 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.

In an executive order announcing sanctions against Venezuela on Friday, President Donald Trump called for the release of Josh Holt, a Utahn who has been detained in that country for more than a year.

Holt was arrested in June 2016, on an accusation of illegally possessing weapons, which his family has called false.

“The United States is also very concerned about the situation of Joshua Holt, a young American being detained illegally by the Maduro regime for over a year now. We once again call for his immediate release on humanitarian grounds,” states the executive order, which was signed Thursday.

The order, effective Friday, prohibits U.S. banks from making new financial deals with the Venezuelan government or the state-run oil company. It also prohibits Americans from dealing in new debt or equity with the Venezuelan government.

The Trump administration had called for Holt’s “immediate release on humanitarian grounds” while discussing the sanctions in a conference call on July 26.

The offices of Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Mia Love have worked with Josh Holt’s family over the past year to increase pressure on the Venezuelan government for the release of their son and his wife, Thamara “Thamy” Caleno.

“For more than a year, I have been focused on Josh Holt‘s release, which started with a false arrest and devolved to a lack of due process and poor treatment in a Venezuelan prison,” stated a news release from Love’s office. ”I have stood side by side with Laurie Holt time and time again to put pressure on our government to intercede. Our office has relentlessly appealed to the previous and current president to make Josh’s release a priority and finally the president has responded.”

Hatch tweeted about the sanctions Friday morning, and reaffirmed his support for Josh Holt.

We need your help more than ever to spread the word about Josh and help pressure those who are holding him. #utpol https://t.co/N1gGKBkoph
— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) August 25, 2017

“Senator Hatch has been working with this administration and the last for over a year to get Josh released and home to his family in Riverton. He deeply appreciates the personal attention President Trump, Vice President Pence and Secretary Tillerson have given to the case, including in today‘s executive order. Senator Hatch is committed to fighting until Josh and Thamy are home here in Utah,” spokesman Matt Whitlock wrote in a released statement.

In July, Hatch stood with Laurie and Jason Holt to call on the White House to release a statement about the imprisonment and to request that United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley consider removing Venezuela from the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The family had also demanded medical care of their son, who had suffered a concussion and a possible back fracture when he fell 6 to 8 feet from his bunk, according to his Salt Lake City-based lawyer, Carlos Trujillo.

Trujillo said he and the Holt family are grateful that Josh Holt was mentioned in the executive order.

In mid-July, Trujillo requested a conditional release for Josh Holt and his wife, which, if granted, would allow the couple to be on house arrest in Venezuela while they await trial.

Holt traveled to Venezuela to marry Caleno, whom he met online while looking for someone to practice Spanish with. He had learned the language while serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Washington state.

The couple married on June 16, 2016, and planned to return to Utah once Caleno obtained a visa, but they were arrested on accusations that Holt was a spy and had a gun and grenade in Caleno’s apartment.

Holt’s preliminary hearing has been rescheduled five times in the past year, according to Trujillo, and has yet to be scheduled a sixth because of unrest and protests in the country.