NAPD Urges President Biden to Secure Release of Public Defender Wrongfully Imprisoned in Venezuela

Eyvin Hernandez is a dedicated public defender in Los Angeles, CA. While on a vacation, he was wrongfully detained. He has been imprisoned in Venezuela since March 2022. The NAPD community has not forgotten Eyvin. We stand with his family, friends, community, and co-workers, asking for Eyvin's safe return. Below you will find our letter to President Biden requesting he secure Eyvin's release. 

His family has setup a GoFundMe page to assist with the astronomical costs to get him home. Please consider contributing to help one of our own. 

Find out more at www.bringeyvinhome.org

A pdf of the letter is viewable here.

——

December 8, 2022 

Dear President Biden, 

We write to you with an urgent request to secure the release of Eyvin Hernandez, who has been wrongfully detained in Venezuela for over eight months. Eyvin has served his Los Angeles community for over 15 years as a career public defender, advocating tirelessly for its most vulnerable citizens. Now, he needs our help. 

As a national community of almost 30,000 public defender professionals, it is unthinkable to us that any person would be wrongfully incarcerated or suffer inhumane conditions. It is unconscionable when it is an advocate who has been in service of those most vulnerable. Someone who has devoted his life to freeing others. 

According to the U.S. State Department, since March 31, Eyvin has been wrongfully detained in Venezuela's General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence prison. From all accounts, he is being held in a notoriously brutal prison on false political conspiracy charges. He is further being denied due process of law to free himself. Like so many of our clients, his absence is a profound loss to his family and community. 

We commend your administration on returning other wrongfully detained Americans from abroad, as well as restoring access to justice as a federal imperative. Eyvin's safe return is essential to us, and we urge you to bring him home as soon as possible. Please let us know if we can be of any assistance. 

Sincerely, 

Geoff Burkhart, Chair, Board of Directors
&
Lori James-Townes, Executive Director

Pictured: Lori & Geoff signing the letter to President Biden.