LGBTQIA+ Community Rallies For Makeup Artist Wrongfully Deported To Salvadoran Prison
‘Bring Him Home’: Community Fights For Gay Man Deported To El Salvador
A gay Venezuelan makeup artist, Andry Hernandez Romero, sought safety in the US. Now, his deportation to a dangerous El Salvador prison has worried communities in West Hollywood and beyond. They are urgently calling for his return.
"Andry Hernandez Romero, a gay, Venezuelan makeup artist deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration last month, cried for his mother as prison guards manhandled him and shaved his head, according to a photojournalist who witnessed the intake process—as Andry is… pic.twitter.com/dGLbxVzgQX
— NOH8 Campaign (@NOH8Campaign) April 16, 2025
Andry fled threats in Venezuela, a country known for discriminating against LGBTQIA+ people, reports CBS News. He legally applied for asylum in the US. His situation shows the hurdles faced by those escaping persecution, even within the US immigration system.
El Salvador’s Notorious Prison
Although he followed the rules, Andry was detained near the California border. He disappeared from an ICE detention centre and was deported to El Salvador, a country known for violence, where he reportedly has no ties.
He’s now cut off from contact in a harsh supermax prison built for gang members. Activists call his deportation a potential ‘death sentence’ because of the prison’s brutal conditions and lack of safety for gay men. US authorities haven’t explained why he was removed or confirmed his current condition, which is worrying. His family and lawyers haven’t been able to reach him.
Why Tattoos Became A Point Of Contention
Questions about Andry’s tattoos add to the complexity. ICE sometimes uses tattoos as signs of gang membership, linking them to groups like Tren de Aragua. But Andry’s lawyer, Lindsay Toczylowski, told CBS News his tattoos honour his parents (crowns over ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’) and aren’t gang symbols. She stated Andry has no criminal record and was seeking asylum from threats in Venezuela. Critics say using tattoos like this unfairly targets people based on looks, not actions.
“A Moral Failure”
Andry’s case is now a focus for action. West Hollywood Mayor Chelsea Byers said the city ‘will always be a safe place for marginalized individuals’ and supports those ‘whose dignity is threatened by unjust systems.’
Joe Hollendoner, CEO of the Los Angeles LGBT Centre, called the deportation ‘a moral failure of our immigration system’ and ‘state-sponsored violence.’ Eddie Martinez from the Latino Equality Alliance called for ‘urgent compassion and action’ and urged influential people to speak up.
Queen Victoria Ortega, President of FLUX International, said, ‘This is about redefining the American dream… We will not rest until justice is served.’ Andry’s lawyers at the Immigrant Defenders Law Centre were shocked by his disappearance from ICE custody and the silence since. ‘We are fighting to bring him home,’ they stated.
The Fight For Andry’s Return
Andry’s case highlights serious concerns about how the US immigration system treats vulnerable people, particularly LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers.
Advocates, community leaders, and lawyers are demanding that ICE and DHS act immediately to bring Andry back to the US and properly review his asylum case. A statewide rally is being organised to pressure federal authorities. The effort continues for Andry’s safety and for changes in immigration practices.
