Republican Under Fire For Shocking Disregard For Gay Prisoner, Andry Romero
It is a strange state of affairs when a politician, already infamous for a chilling admission about her own dog, manages to display an even more profound level of detachment regarding a human life.
"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
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, already facing scrutiny for detailing the killing of her family dog, faced questions this week. These questions brought renewed attention to the ongoing and desperate case of Andry Hernandez Romero. Andry, as our readers may recall, is the gay asylum seeker from Venezuela. His fate remains terrifyingly uncertain, and Governor Noem’s latest comments have only made his situation appear more dire.
Andry’s Situation
For those new to his story, Andry Hernandez Romero’s case is one we at DNA have been tracking with mounting alarm. A hairstylist who legally sought asylum in the United States due to credible threats in Venezuela linked to his sexuality and political views, Andry played by the rules. His lawyer, Lindsay Toczylowski, previously confirmed, “The government had found that his threats against him were credible and that he had a real probability of winning an asylum claim.”
SCOOP: An alleged gangbanger deported by the Trump admin to El Salvador’s hellhole megaprison was previously booted from the US before the Biden admin ultimately let him in using the CBP One phone application, sources tell me.
— Jennie Taer 🎗️ (@JennieSTaer) April 24, 2025
Venezuelan migrant Andry Hernandez Romero, 31, was… pic.twitter.com/qMQ7Fivwky
Despite this, Andry was deported – not to his home country, but in shackles to El Salvador’s infamous CECOT mega-prison, a facility notorious for human rights abuses. The justification for this drastic action rested on misinterpretations of his tattoos – tributes to his parents – as “gang-related.” As we’ve reported, this assessment was made by a former police officer with a troubled professional history.
He is now employed by private detention contractor CoreCivic. A video message from Andry himself from within CECOT made his identity clear: “I’m not a gang member. I’m gay. I’m a stylist.” His friend, Reina Cardenas, has spoken of his dedication to arts and culture.
"He was being slapped every time he would speak up. He couldn't help himself. Then he started praying and calling out, literally crying for his mother."
— Blue Georgia (@BlueATLGeorgia) April 7, 2025
— Photojournalist Philip Holsinger on Andry José Hernández Romero. pic.twitter.com/4II7NTMKM9
A Mother’s Plea Met With Familiar Dismissal
The latest developments occurred during a Homeland Security hearing. Representative Robert Garcia, an openly gay Congressman from California, once again put Andry’s case to Governor Noem. His request was direct and profoundly human: “Would you commit to just letting his mother know – as a mother-to-mother – if Andry is alive?”
“This isn’t under my jurisdiction.”
When Representative Garcia persisted, asking if she would merely inquire about Andry’s status, Noem again passed responsibility, suggesting it was a question for El Salvador’s government. This stance is particularly galling considering, as we’ve noted before, U.S. officials have reportedly acknowledged such prisons as instruments in regional security.
The persistent lack of concern for Andry, a young gay man who looked to the U.S. for safety only to be placed in danger, is deeply disturbing. His life, and the anguish of his loved ones, demands more than bureaucratic indifference.
The question of what has happened to Andry Hernandez Romero is one we will continue to ask. His story is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers and the urgent need for humane accountability from those in power. We believe his life matters, and the search for answers must go on.
JUST NOW: Robert Garcia asks Kristi Noem if she will check if Andry Hernández Romero is alive (she won’t): “It is shameful that you won’t even request to see if this young man is alive” pic.twitter.com/Atyhr0haOv
— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) May 14, 2025
