Michael G. Kozak

I believe Maduro is a dictator. He has caused the people to suffer.

If we are successful in our efforts to promote democracy in Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, and we intend to be, we will need to provide assistance that is qualitatively and quantitatively different than what we are providing at present to…

More of the same will not end the crisis.

The way to do this is to answer their call for early, free, and fair elections.

The continued campaign of violence against protesters is self-defeating.

Those who continue to collaborate with the Ortega-Murillo regime in abusing the human rights of the Nicaraguan people... will find themselves and their families in the same situation as those who just had their visas and economic…

The Nicaraguan people deserve a government that respects their vote and respects human rights.

We are standing with the call of the Nicaraguan people for early elections, as that seems to be the only available option for solving the crisis.

Allow the Nicaraguan people to resolve this crisis through democratic means.

Thank you for holding this hearing to focus attention on international religious freedom--a cherished American value, a universal human right, and a Trump administration foreign policy priority.

Yes. No, we've found that the visa denial is a very effective tool, whether it's for human rights violations generally or religious freedom violations in particular.

President Trump has stated that the United States looks forward to a day when people of all faiths... can follow their hearts and worship according to their conscience.