Gay asylum seeker deported by Trump administration sent back to Venezuela after prisoner swap
Rallies were held for the safe return of Andry Romero, who was deported to a facility in El Salvador. (Los Angeles LGBT Center)
Rallies were held for the safe return of Andry Romero, who was deported to a facility in El Salvador. (Los Angeles LGBT Center)
A gay makeup artist who was deported to a prison in El Salvador after seeking asylum in the US has been released as part of a prisoner-swap deal.
Andry Hernández Romero, who entered the US legally last year, having fled anti-LGBTQ+ violence in his homeland, has been sent back to Venezuela. He had been deported after showing up for a government interview.
US officials accused him of having ties to violent gangs, based on his tattoos, despite lawyers saying he had no criminal record.
Romero had been in the prison, known as CECOT, for 125 days. The El Salvador facility has a reputation for anti-LGBTQ+ violence and inhumane conditions.
@pinknews A gay makeup artist, who sought asylum in the US from Venezuela but was deported to a prison in El Salvador, has been released as part of a prisoner swap – but he's being sent back to Venezuela. Andry Hernández Romero entered the US legally in 2024, escaping anti-LGBTQ+ violence. After passing a credible fear interview he was deported after showing up for an appointment the US government arranged with him. Government officials accused him of gang ties based on tattoos he has for his parents. Attorneys say he has no criminal record. He had been held in prison since March. The prison, knowns as CECOT, has a reputation as a site of anti-LGBTQ+ violence and inhumane conditions. #asylum #asylumseekers #elsalvador #trumpadministration #andryhernández #mua #lgbtqia ♬ Minimal for news / news suspense(1169746) – Hiraoka Kotaro
Prior to the prisoner swap, 52 Democrats, including gay representative Robert Garcia, demanded proof that Romero was alive and called on secretary of state Marco Rubio to intervene in the case. In a letter dated 9 June, they pressed the State Department to “conduct a wellness check… facilitate his access to legal counsel and immediately facilitate his release”.
The letter referred to secretary of homeland security Kristi Noem, who had refused to confirm that Romero was still alive.
California representative Garcia has now posted an update on X/Twitter.
“We are so grateful Andry Hernández Romero is alive,” he wrote. “He’s back in Venezuela and we are working to make sure he’s safe. He never should have been sent to the CECOT prison and he still deserves due process. We won’t stop fighting for him.”
We are so grateful Andry Hernández Romero is alive. He’s back in Venezuela and we are working to make sure he’s safe. He never should have been sent to the CECOT prison and he still deserves due process. We won’t stop fighting for him. pic.twitter.com/FZJEJZRIhR
— Congressman Robert Garcia (@RepRobertGarcia) July 19, 2025
Rallies were held across California in May to show support for Romero. LGBTQ+ leaders demanded he be returned to the US to be able to continue his bid asylum. Even controversial right-wing podcaster Joe Rogan came to his defence.
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