Dear All,

I am sooo happy to share with all you that Eyvin Hernandez is now home. His family, friends and supporters could not be more ecstatic about the miracle we are living through. This is simply the best Christmas present ever.

President Joe Biden acted with compassion for American families when he decided to give up Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman, who was being held in federal prison Florida in exchange for 10 Americans, including Eyvin. In addition, 20 Venezuelan political prisoners were also released as part of the deal. We are so thankful to the President for prioritizing the lives of Americans who were unjustly and wrongfully detained. The President gave them back their freedom!!! We are also grateful to staff at the National Security Council including David Cotter, Juan Gonzalez, Jonathan Finer, and Jake Sullivan, and State Department staff including Secretary Antony Blinken, Roger Carstens, Brian Nichols, Jennifer Harkins, Jacob Hernandez, Christ Estoch, Jeremy and others. More about Eyvin's situation can be read here and here. Eyvin's first interview back can be seen here.

We have so many people to thank as well. Chief amongst them are congressional representatives Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Young Kim, Nanette Barragan, Joaquin Castro, Gregory Meeks, Alex Padilla, LaPhonza Butler, Ben Cardin, Jeanne Shaheen, and the late Diane Feinstein. Your calls and this petition has helped us get attention, along with the many meetings we took with many representatives. In addition, we want to thank LA Mayor, Karen Bass, LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, and California Assemblyman Isaac Bryan. There are many people that deserve to be mentioned, and we hope to properly thank them personally in the interest of brevity.

Most importantly, we thank all of you for advocating for Eyvin in his hour of need. We thought that we can secure his liberty, and we did!

Finally, Eyvin is recovering at a military base right now before he comes home to LA. He has been through a lot and believes that he needs time to process the totality of his experience - the hardest one of his life. To that end, we ask you consider a contribution to the Go Fund Me fundraiser his brother, Henry, has set up. We will now use the fund to help Eyvin recover and determine what is next move ought to be.

Merry Christmas to you and yours should you celebrate this holiday. Be well and please continue to look out for one another in this great big world of ours.

With love and deep gratitude,

Luan Huynh   

(Eyvin's proud friend and Bring Eyvin Home coalition member)