Help Bring Eva Mendes Home — Legal Fund

Permission, instructions, and advice have been given to me, Linda Lewis, to post this fundraiser on behalf of Eva Mendes’s husband, family, and attorney.

For more than 40 years, Eva Mendes has proudly called the United States her home. She’s a devoted wife, a hardworking mother of six, and a woman whose kindness and determination have touched every person lucky enough to know her. Eva has spent her life giving to others — raising her children with love, working tirelessly to provide for her family, and building a future rooted in faith and perseverance.

This fall, Eva made a trip that meant the world to her. After more than four decades away from her homeland, she and her sister traveled to Cape Verde to grieve the sudden and heartbreaking loss of their brother in October 2025. It was also meant to be a joyful reunion — a chance to surprise her mother, whom she hadn’t seen in over 40 years. What was meant to be a healing visit of love and family turned into an unimaginable nightmare.

When Eva returned to the U.S., landing at Logan Airport in Boston, MA on November 5, 2025, she was detained by immigration authorities and has not been allowed to return home since.

What’s Happening

Eva is a longtime U.S. permanent resident with a valid green card, cleared by immigration officials prior to her departure. She does have a few old misdemeanor convictions and an open, decade-old petty case in Massachusettswith an active warrant. But none of these are violent or dangerous — Eva is not a threat to anyone. She is a mother, a wife, a neighbor, and a kindhearted woman who deserves compassion and due process.

Her husband Jose immediately retained an immigration attorney on November 8, and the lawyer filed a habeas petitionwith the court on November 10 to fight for her release. Despite this, Eva remains detained as of November 11, 2025, and her attorney has not yet been able to speak with her directly.

After days of silence and fear, Jose finally heard Eva’s voice today — through an airport guard’s phone. That brief call brought both tears and hope, but the fight is far from over.

Why We’re Asking for Help

This family is doing everything they can, but the legal fees and costs are overwhelming. They are fighting against time and bureaucracy to bring Eva home where she belongs — to her husband and six children, who are devastated and praying for her safe return every day.

We are asking for help to cover legal expenses, filing fees, and all necessary costs to secure Eva’s release and protect her right to remain in the country she’s called home for most of her life.

No donation is too small. Every dollar, every share, every prayer helps bring Eva one step closer to reuniting with her family.

Please Help Bring Eva Home

Your kindness and compassion can make a real difference. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with Eva, Jose, and their children during this unimaginable time.

We will continue to post updates here as soon as we receive any new information from her lawyer or family.

With gratitude and hope,
Linda Lewis
On behalf of Jose Dejesus, Family & Attorney