Gay Venezuelan Asylum Seeker Details U.S. Deportation, Survival in El Salvador Prison

Andry Hernández Romero, a gay Venezuelan asylum seeker, recounted his traumatic experience after being deported from the U.S. to El Salvador’s feared CECOT supermax prison under the Trump administration. Despite entering the U.S. legally and seeking asylum from anti-LGBTQ+ persecution, he was misidentified as a gang member based on tattoos and subjected to beatings, sexual assault, and prolonged uncertainty. Hernández described how he survived by adapting to fellow inmates, maintaining a low profile about his sexuality, and relying on his faith, all while enduring deception about his deportation destination. After 125 days in custody, he was released and returned to Venezuela but remains at risk, with advocates warning about his safety. Throughout his ordeal, Hernández displayed remarkable poise, continuing to express love for the United States and highlighting the resilience of the deported group, who formed a supportive community that endures beyond prison. His story underscores the human cost of immigration enforcement policies and the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ asylum seekers.