Statement from Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez on the Judicial Decision Against Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe

Miami, FL – July 30, 2025— Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe represents the spirit of a nation that refused to surrender to terrorism. He was a leader who confronted the FARC with strength and clarity when many chose silence—whether out of fear or political convenience. That courage is precisely why he is being attacked today.

What transpired in Colombia was not justice—it was a political persecution disguised as a trial. This was not a fair legal process but a targeted campaign led by the radical left that now influences President Gustavo Petro’s administration.

President Uribe is being condemned for refusing to negotiate with criminals, for standing firm against narco-terrorism, and for defending Colombia’s institutions against the same failed socialist ideologies that devastated Cuba and Venezuela. The pattern is clear: castrochavismo seeks to weaponize the judicial system to eliminate dissent and punish defenders of liberty.

From the United States, I express my deep concern over the accelerating erosion of democracy in Colombia, the alarming rise in political violence, the empowerment of criminal networks, and the deterioration of public security under Petro’s leadership. Meanwhile, the FARC and their sympathizers rejoice.

President Uribe is not alone. He remains a symbol of resistance and patriotism for countless Colombians and for many of us in exile who continue to fight for freedom in the region. Today, we stand with him—firm in our commitment to resist tyranny in all its forms.

Dariel Fernandez
Miami-Dade County Tax Collector