The second of four siblings, Lucas has been passionate about water sports ever since he worked as a water sports instructor in Hawaii. He’s an avid kite surfer and a huge fan of Point Break and surf legend Robbie Naish.  Lucas never served in the military, has no political affiliation and never engaged in any rally or activism for any cause. He speaks English and French but no Spanish. His family describes him as kind, fun, happy, and full of life.

Lucas was on vacation in Colombia when he got lost while motocycling.  he road brought him close to the Venezuelan border. He recognized it and turned to get away but was coerced by the Venezuelan border agents who crossed into Colombia to grab him. At 1:30 PM Colombia time, he sent a voice note to his sister saying he had been, “caught by the Venezuelans, and four hours have passed since I have been here. I think they want to let me go, but I have the police, the military that are asking me lots of questions, and I think I’ll get to the end of things.” Lucas also emphasized in text messages that he did not know what was happening.   At 9:00 am Colombia time on January 8, he sent a second voice message saying, “I am still in the same place. There is immigration police involved…..They did a report with all the details, where it is written that I had no intent to enter the country, and when I saw the border, I reversed, but the military people told me to come forward. Some people are telling me I will be questioned for three days. I assume it is in Caracas. Others say that we’ll see later today. So now I’m waiting for the authorization to leave.”   That is the last anyone has heard anything about Lucas.

https://www.freelucas.com/

Youras is a naturalized U.S. citizen and champion of human rights and democracy. In April 2021, Youras returned to his hotel after having lunch with a friend in Moscow to find four men waiting outside for him.  They pulled a hood over his head and forced him into a car, then fleed the country with Youras.  Then men drove over 400 miles to deliver Youras to Minsk, Belarus.  The Belarus government made ridiculous claims that Youras was part of a plot against the government.  In reality, Youras was critical of Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko, and Lukashenkno wanted to silence him.  Youras has been wrongfully detained in Belarus ever since his abduction.  He was convicted in a secret trial without evidence and the U.S. Embassy in Lithuania has only recently been allowed to visit him in prison.  Youras's  family is concerned with his health.  The U.S. government must do more to secure the release of this champion of freedom and democracy. 

Jorge is a father and grandfather. He is a man of deep faith and a gentle soul.  Jorge has been wrongfully detained in Venezuela since September 2024. He is one of several US citizens who are being unjustly held there on false charges. Jorge's family worries about his health and safety. He has a history of medical issues that require attention, and his health is declining given the poor conditions of his detention. The U.S. government must act to bring Jorge, and the other Americans being wrongfully detained in Venezuela, home.

https://www.bringhomejorgemarcelo.com/

Joseph is a decorated Air Force veteran who served his country with distinction.  He was in South American working in the food services industry and receiving medical care. Joseph's family became concerned when they lost contact with him in November 2024.  For several months, the family was unable get in contact with Joseph or find out anything about where he might be.  It was not until the start of February 2025 that the State Department reached out to the family with the news that Joseph was wrongfully detained in Venezuela.  Joseph's unjust detention fits a pattern of behavior, where Venezuela has been wrongfully detaining foreigners to use for political leverage.  The U.S. government must act with urgency to bring Joseph, and the others wrongfully held in Venezuela, home.

Mahmood Habibi is an American citizen, father, and businessman who was wrongfully detained by the Taliban, along with approximately 30 other employees of the company he worked at, in August 2022. While the others have been released, Mahmood is still being held. He has not been charged with a crime, and has had no contact with his wife and young daughter.  He is also being denied his right to speak with American diplomats.  The U.S. government needs to act to bring Mahmood home and reunite him with his family.

David was arrested on January 13, 2022, after his ex-wife, who kidnapped his sons from Texas to Russia, made allegations of abuse that had already been disproven twice by Texas officials. The Russian court ignored the fact his ex-wife’s claims had twice been investigated and found to be unsubstantiated. It also ignored the fact that Russia did not have any reasonable jurisdiction for the case. David is sentenced to 21 years hard labor.

https://www.freedavidbarnes.com

Robert is a Marine Corps veteran, who was traveling in Russia when he fell sick on a train. Instead of medical help, he was taken to a police station. He fell into a cycle of charges, which began with a case that was dismissed, a second that was without evidence, and a third for assault of a police officer where even the police officer says he should not be charged. A typical Russian Government tactic is getting Americans into their system, and pile on various unfounded charges to keep them there. This is Robert’s story, and they continue to put him in conditions that set him up for further charges that further politicize his case. Beyond this, the profile of the case against Robert appears eerily familiar to the Trevor Reed case, where a former Marine unexpectedly blacked out and was charged with punching a police officer, suggesting this may all have been staged.

https://www.freerobertgilman.com

Ksenia Karelina, a 32-year-old dual US and Russian citizen resides in Los Angeles, CA. She moved with her childhood friend Kristina from Russia to the Baltimore area in 2012, where she pursued dance as a ballerina.

In 2017, Ksenia relocated to Los Angeles, working as a receptionist at the luxury Ciel Spa at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. On July 28, 2021, she obtained her US citizenship. In 2022, Ksenia graduated from esthetician school. Her boss and colleagues have been some her biggest supporters since she was arrested, and promise her old job is waiting for her.
On January 2nd 2024, 32-year-old dual US and Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina traveled to Russia to visit her 90-year-old grandmother for the first time in years. Three days before she was scheduled to return home, she was arrested. Ksenia is currently in a Russian jail, facing a possible life sentence for trumped-up treason charges.

https://www.freeksenia.com/

Andre Khachatoorian is a 38-year-old American citizen of Armenian descent. He is an incredibly caring son, brother, and family man who got engaged to the love of his life 3 months before being captured by the Russian government at the Sheremetyevo International Airport on December 27, 2021.

Andre was transiting in Moscow for 3 hours before traveling to Armenia to spend his first holidays with his fiancée. But at the Sheremetyevo International Airport, Russian authorities questioned Andre for his small firearm, which was secured and locked in his suitcase holding all licenses and ownership documents. Andre had attempted to declare it at LAX at the luggage check-in location at Aeroflot Airlines Desk, where Aeroflot personnel informed him he could fill out the declaration form before traveling to Armenia, and would be guided to properly declare his weapon as he was not traveling to Russia.

For days, Andre attempted to call US embassy officials, seeking help from authorities with no luck. He was not allowed access to his critical medications during this time, and eventually detained for violating Russian law by traveling with a weapon inside his luggage. After twelve months of court delays, he was sentenced to 8 years in prison.

Andre’s family is extremely worried. They struggle to provide and deliver him the proper medications for his respiratory ailments as well as basic necessities. Andre’s requests to be under specialist evaluation each month, as needed, have been denied by the judge for 19 months and counting. Andre's family is pleading with the US Government to recognize his wrongful detention and ensure his release and safe return home.

https://www.freeandre.org/

@zackbackhome

Zack Shahin is an American hostage in the United Arab Emirates for the last 17 years on an alleged white collar crime. On the 23rd of March 2023, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued their ruling pertaining Zack S. Shahin whereby they found he has been arbitrarily detained for 15 years, kidnapped on two counts, and subjected to numerous human rights crimes and violations including torture, hence incriminating the UAE government officials, UAE national airline carrier, as well as the Yemeni government officials. There were similar findings by the Foley Foundation and Human Rights Watch.

In exchange for a few trade and defense contracts, the US State Department has/is turning a blind eye to the fact that the UAE which enjoy great bilateral ties with the US has been holding an American citizen hostage for 15 years.

http://www.bringzackhome.org

@Shahab_Dalili

Shahab Dalili, a 60-year-old husband and father of two, was taken hostage during a short family-related visit to Iran in April 2016. Shahab and his family are from Gainesville, VA. They arrived in the US and received their Legal Permanent Resident status in August 2014. His family is all naturalized US citizens now and Shahab would have been one too by now if he had not been taken hostage as a Legal Permanent Resident. We plead with Secretary Rubio, SPEHA Adam Boehler, and President Trump to not forget him and leave him behind in Iran.

Trevor Reed | Freed from Russia in April 2022 after 985 days

Mark Frerichs | Freed from Afghanistan in September 2022 after 962 days

Alirio Zambrano | Freed from Venezuela in October 2022 after 1,775 days

Jose Luis Zambrano | Freed from Venezuela in October 2022 after 1,775 days

Matthew Heath | Freed from Venezuela in October 2022 after 752 days

Jorge Toledo | Freed from Venezuela in October 2022 after 1,775 days

Jose Angel Pereira | Freed from Venezuela in October 2022 after 1,775 days

Baquer Namazi | Freed from Iran in October 2022 after 2,413 days

Brittney Griner | Freed from Russia in December 2022 after 294 days

Jeffery Woodke | Freed from Niger in March 2023 after 2,348 days

Paul Rusesabagina | Freed from Rwanda in March 2023 after 935 days

Emad Shargi | Freed from Iran in September 2023 after 1,975 days

Morad Tahbaz | Freed from Iran in September 2023 after 2,078 days

Siamak Namazi | Freed from Iran in September 2023 after 2,898 days

Luke Denman | Freed from Venezuela in December 2023 after 1,325 days

Airan Berry | Freed from Venezuela in December 2023 after 1,325 days

Eyvin Hernandez | Freed from Venezuela in December 2023 after 630 days

Joseph Cristella | Freed from Venezuela in December 2023 after 462 days

Jerrel Kenemore | Freed from Venezuela in December 2023 after 643 days

Paul Whelan | Freed from Russia in August 2024 after 2,043 days

David Lin | Freed from China in September 2024 after 6,681 days

Mark Swidan | Freed from China in November 2024 after 4,397 days

Kai Li | Freed from China in November 2024 after 3,001 days

Marc Fogel | Freed from Russia in February 2025 after 1,277 days

Reach out to us at bofhcampaign@protonmail.com