Dear President Joseph Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Alex Padilla, and Congressman Gregory Meeks:

We ask for the safe release and return of Eyvin Hernandez, a U.S. citizen, who has been illegitimately detained by the Venezuelan government since March 31, 2022. Eyvin is being held in a maximum-security prison in Boleita, Caracas, accused of “conspiracy” and “association to commit crimes” against the government, of which there is no evidence. We are concerned that Eyvin may be denied due process. 

On July 19, 2022, after Eyvin’s detention, the United States State Department issued a travel advisory that states, “Do not travel to Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure, kidnapping, and the arrest and detention of U.S. citizens without due process or fair trial guarantees. Exercise increased caution in Venezuela due to terrorism and wrongful detentions.” 

Just as the State Department warned, Eyvin is being wrongfully detained by the Venezuelan authorities; after many, many painful months, the State Department made that determination on November 1, 2022.  

Eyvin is a beloved son, uncle, and well-loved community member in the local Los Angeles metropolitan area. He has been a dedicated public servant for the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office for 15 years, ever since graduating from the University of California Los Angeles School of Law in 2005. In those 15 years, Eyvin has tirelessly served the people of his community, including the unhoused, those struggling with mental health challenges, and indigent people in our criminal justice system. As a public defender, he has earned a reputation for being a zealous advocate for his clients, ensuring that his clients’ economic circumstances do not abridge their constitutional rights to due process and a fair and just defense. For nearly two decades, Eyvin has worked hard to make sure that even our most marginalized community members are treated fairly and with compassion. The sad irony of this situation is that Eyvin, a life-long advocate, is not in a position to fight for his own release from custody. Eyvin is being held in a maximum security prison, without computer access, and without the freedom to call upon each of you to aid him in his hour of need, when his life and liberty hang in the balance. 

On his behalf, we are asking you to intervene and do everything in your power to bring him back home to his community of family and friends. We are encouraged by the President's courageous decision to whatever it takes to obtain Ms. Griner's release - and to effectuate that strong and determined stance through a humanitarian hostage exchange. We demand that Eyvin receive the same level of consideration for he, too, is as valuable and worthy.

Sincerely,

(insert your name by signing the petition)

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Contact Political Leaders!

Sign the above petition. And/or use the information to call, email, or write to President Biden and Vice President Harris here

Senator Alex Padilla: (202) 224-3553

Email Senator Padilla here

Senator Dianne Feinstein: (202) 224-3841

Email Senator Feinstein here

Senator Bob Menendez, Chair of Senate Foreign Relations Committee: (202) 224-4651

Email  Chair Menendez via staff at andrea_samuelson@foreign.senate.gov.

Congressman Gregory Meeks, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee: (202) 225-5021

Email Congressman Meeks via staff at jeremy.gonzalez@mail.house.gov. 

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Financially Support the Campaign to Bring Eyvin Home:

Go Fund Me

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More Information about Eyvin’s Situation:

More information about Eyvin, and the campaign to free him, can be found at: https://bringeyvinhome.org/.

Media coverage about Eyvin and his detention can be found in this story by The Guardian.  The Associated Press story can be found here. Spanish coverage of the story on Univision can be found here; in addition, El Pitazo covered it here.

In March, the United States successfully negotiated the release of two hostages that were being held in Venezuela. Please see The Hill and the Washington Times for additional reporting. In addition, on October 1, the U.S. secured the release of 7 U.S. citizens and permanent residents (including Osman Khan and Jose Pereira) in exchange for two Venezuelans who were imprisoned in the U.S. More about that situation can be found here. Osman Khan calls Eyvin his best friend after they bonded while in captivity because Eyvin took care of Osman when he was dealing with health challenges. Jose has been passionately assisting the Coalition fight for Eyvin's release since returning to the U.S.