Key Takeaways
• Andry Hernández Romero, a Venezuelan gay asylum seeker, was deported to El Salvador’s CECOT prison under the Alien Enemies Act.
• Advocacy groups and officials say his removal before a court hearing violated his rights and endangered his life.
• His case highlights risks facing LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and unprecedented legal actions under century-old laws against migrants.
Andry Hernández Romero’s case has drawn growing attention and concern from people who care about immigrant rights, LGBTQ protections, and fair legal treatment in the United States 🇺🇸. Advocacy groups, elected leaders, and community members are asking for immediate action in hopes of securing his safe release. His situation is about more than one person’s struggle. To many, it reflects wider worries about how asylum seekers are treated, how long-standing immigration laws are being used, and what happens to those sent back to dangerous places.
Who Is Andry Hernández Romero?
Andry Hernández Romero is a 31-year-old gay Venezuelan asylum seeker. In May 2024, he left Venezuela 🇻🇪 because he faced threats and fear for his life due to his sexual orientation and political views. Before coming to the United States, he traveled through the dangerous Darien Gap and arrived in Mexico 🇲🇽. There, he secured a legal appointment to ask for asylum at a U.S. border crossing near San Diego.
Hernández Romero is a makeup artist who simply wanted safety and a chance to live freely without fear. His journey, like many others seeking asylum, was filled with uncertainty and risk. But after passing his initial asylum interview in the United States — a key step showing his fear of returning home was genuine — he faced a surprising turn of events that now puts his life at risk.
Detention and Deportation: A Sudden Shift
After arriving in the United States 🇺🇸, Hernández Romero was held in custody while his case for asylum was looked at. His attorney, Lindsay Toczylowski, explained that he passed the credible fear interview. This interview is the first step in the asylum process. It’s meant to test if someone is truly afraid of danger in their home country. When an asylum seeker passes, it usually means they can keep fighting their case in a court.
But in March 2025, just as Hernández Romero was getting ready to attend his court hearing, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers unexpectedly detained him again. Instead of letting him come to his scheduled hearing, they deported him to El Salvador 🇸🇻. The way this was done has caused outrage and fear among supporters and legal experts.
The Trump administration used a law called the Alien Enemies Act to remove Hernández Romero and 237 other Venezuelan migrants. This is an old law, dating back to the time of World War II. Until now, it had not been used against migrants. Officials used it to claim that these people were terrorists or gang members and so should not be allowed to stay.
For Hernández Romero, officials pointed to tattoos on his body — in the shape of crowns — as proof he was part of a gang known as Tren de Aragua. But his legal team and family say this is not true. They argue that the only thing the tattoos show is that he is creative and maybe likes certain styles, not that he is a gang member.
Margaret Cargioli, from the Immigrant Defenders Law Center and one of Hernández Romero’s lawyers, called the situation shocking. She said, “for 55 days, an asylum seeker that had a case pending in US Immigration Court has literally been disappeared.” This means that not only was he removed, but no one knew exactly where he was held or if he was safe.
Life Inside El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center
Since being sent away from the United States, Hernández Romero is locked up in El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). This is a high-security prison described by observers as having harsh conditions, extreme overcrowding, and strict rules that cut people off from the outside world. In CECOT, there are no visits and no way for loved ones to communicate with prisoners.
His legal team and family have not been able to contact him since he left a detention center in Texas 🇺🇸. According to Cargioli, “one of the greatest forms of torture that CECOT imposes is to cut people off from their loved ones—no visits, no contact, and no communication.” This isolation adds another layer of suffering, especially for someone who depends on family and friends for comfort.
A Time magazine photographer, Philip Holsinger, visited the prison and heard the cries of a young man believed to be Hernández Romero. As he was being shaved and slapped, the man reportedly shouted out, “I’m not a gang member. I’m gay. I’m a stylist,” while calling for his mother. This report gives a human voice to a story that could easily be buried under paperwork and laws.
Widespread Outrage and Advocacy
Since the news of Hernández Romero’s deportation became public, many groups and leaders have raised their voices to call for action.
- On May 9, 2025, attorneys for Hernández Romero joined New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal to urge for his release.
- On May 12, 2025, a large group including elected officials, lawyers, and both immigrant and LGBTQ+ advocates held a demonstration outside the historic Stonewall Inn, demanding his immediate return.
- Representative Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) asked the administration for clear answers about why the deportation happened.
- The Los Angeles LGBT Center, along with other LGBTQ+ groups in California 🇺🇸, held a press event in late April 2025, highlighting the urgency of bringing Hernández Romero back to safety.
- The Mayor of West Hollywood, Chelsea Byers, and other local leaders have also shown their support.
Joe Hollendoner, CEO of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, made a strong statement, saying the deportation was not just a mistake but “a moral failure” and called it “state-sponsored violence.” Congressman Jerrold Nadler of Manhattan put it even more sharply: “The government acted as a kidnapper. There’s no other way of putting it. The United States Government kidnapped this man, and sent him to a gulag in El Salvador.”
These words, though harsh, show how deeply some leaders feel about what they see as a grave injustice. They believe that the rights of a vulnerable asylum seeker were not only overlooked but trampled on in a way that should never happen in a country built on promises of safety and fairness.
A broad “Justice 4 Andry” coalition has also sprung up, organizing marches during May Day and keeping up steady pressure on decision-makers.
Why This Case Is Different
The way the Trump administration used the Alien Enemies Act in this case has few, if any, recent examples. The law was made more than 100 years ago, in a very different time. Usually, it is reserved for dealing with people from countries at war with the United States, not for removing asylum seekers who are waiting for a legal hearing.
Supporters of Hernández Romero say that the little evidence tying him to a dangerous gang — simply having tattoos that look like crowns — shows how thin the case against him is. Instead, they see a person who was honest about who he is and why he needs help. Passing the credible fear interview should have protected him, they argue, from sudden removal before his day in court.
Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that this case sets a worrying pattern for how quickly long-standing American laws can be used in new ways that put lives at risk.
The Danger for LGBTQ+ Asylum Seekers
Safety in detention centers and prisons is already a serious problem for many. For LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, the risks are even greater. Stories like Hernández Romero’s remind us of the dangers faced by those who do not fit into expected roles or who stand out because of their identity. In places like CECOT, these risks include violence, discrimination, and total isolation.
His attorney Lindsay Toczylowski has stated that the danger is not only about the prison itself, but also about whether Hernández Romero will survive under such harsh and hostile conditions. This is especially important since he is both an LGBTQ+ person and an asylum seeker — two groups that face high risks.
Delays, Silence, and Demands for Fairness
Since the deportation, those supporting Hernández Romero have tried to reach him or get updates about his health and safety. So far, the Department of Homeland Security has not allowed him to appear for his court hearing virtually and has refused to give information about how to reach him while in El Salvador.
This lack of communication only adds to the sense of urgency. Many are worried that if nothing is done, his situation could get even worse over time.
Broader Impact: What Does This Mean for Others?
Hernández Romero’s case is now seen as important not just for him, but for anyone from vulnerable backgrounds seeking safety in the United States 🇺🇸. The decision to use the Alien Enemies Act, the conditions at the Terrorism Confinement Center, and the treatment of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers all point to problems in the current system.
Advocates worry that if someone with a pending case and clear evidence of real danger can be sent away, others in similar situations might face the same results. The message sent is that safety and fairness can be swept aside without warning.
Legal experts and advocacy groups are asking for stronger safeguards. They want to make sure that people seeking asylum, especially those at high risk like LGBTQ+ individuals, have the chance for a fair hearing before being deported. They also call on immigration officials to follow laws that protect people from being sent to face violence or mistreatment.
Next Steps: Calls to Action and Hope for Change
The movement to bring Hernández Romero back to safety is growing. Marches, media coverage, and direct pressure on public officials continue as the days pass.
Supporters argue that:
- The United States must follow its laws and keep basic promises to protect people fleeing harm.
- Asylum seekers like Hernández Romero should never be locked away in dangerous foreign prisons while their case is still open.
- LGBTQ+ people, already at risk at home, need safe places and fair treatment if they ask for asylum.
If you are concerned or want to get involved, you can learn more about asylum rights and official processes at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) information page. This page provides details about who can apply for asylum, how the process works, and what steps need to be followed.
What This Means Going Forward
The story of Andry Hernández Romero is about hope, fear, and the fight for basic rights. People in the United States and beyond are watching closely to see if leaders will step up to repair what many feel was a grave wrong.
Because his situation involves a mix of tough legal questions, human rights, and the treatment of both asylum seekers and LGBTQ+ people, the way his case is handled could set a standard for similar cases in the future.
By standing together, demanding answers, and putting pressure on officials, supporters hope to make real changes, not only for Hernández Romero but for all who seek justice and safety. As this case unfolds, it remains a clear reminder that every asylum seeker’s life and well-being depend on fair treatment and the willingness of others to speak out when something has gone wrong.
Learn Today
Alien Enemies Act → A U.S. law from 1798, rarely used, allowing deportation of nationals from enemy countries during times of conflict or war.
Credible Fear Interview → An initial screening interview determining if an asylum seeker genuinely fears persecution or torture if returned to their home country.
CECOT (Terrorism Confinement Center) → A high-security prison in El Salvador known for harsh conditions, overcrowding, isolation, and detaining alleged gang members and others.
Asylum Seeker → A person fleeing persecution and seeking protection in another country, requesting permission to stay legally as a refugee.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → A U.S. federal law enforcement agency responsible for immigration enforcement, detention, and deportation of non-citizens.
This Article in a Nutshell
Andry Hernández Romero’s forced deportation from the U.S. to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison has ignited public outrage. Despite passing an initial asylum interview, he was removed under the Alien Enemies Act. His case symbolizes the dangers faced by LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and the urgent need for immigration reform and rights adherence.
— By VisaVerge.com
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• Trump Supercharges Immigration Detention With Private Prisons
• Homaidan Al-Turki Deported After Colorado Prison Hell
• Trump Administration Slaps Prison Time on Illegal Crossings
• US sends Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador’s mega-prison
• Bay Area tech staffing firm owner gets prison for visa fraud
