Gay Venezuelan asylum seeker deported to El Salvador prison, released in prisoner swap months later
May 22, 2026·Location: Tecoluca, El Salvador
Country of origin: Venezuela

Andry Hernández Romero, a gay makeup artist from Venezuela, legally entered the U.S. in August 2024 and passed a credible fear interview for asylum. In March 2025, the Trump administration deported him to CECOT, a maximum security prison in El Salvador, under the Alien Enemies Act as part of a broader deportation of 237 Venezuelan migrants. Authorities cited tattoos allegedly linking him to gang activity, which his family disputed as relating to a local cultural festival. Hernández Romero was detained in CECOT for over four months before being released in July 2025 as part of a prisoner swap. He was subsequently returned to Venezuela rather than allowed to remain in the U.S. His case became part of a class-action lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act for deportations. A Venezuelan makeup artist was deported to El Salvador and subsequently traveled to Spain to seek asylum. The person states they feel safe in Spain and is pursuing asylum protection there.
Sources
- Trump administration deports gay makeup artist to prison in El Salvador
- He left Venezuela for the US, dreaming of a career in cosmetics. He was deported to a Salvadoran prison
CNN·May 28, 2025·archived copy
- 'Is being gay a crime?' Venezuelan makeup artist rebuilds life after 125 days in El Salvador prison
Los Angeles Times·Sep 11, 2025·archived copy
- Venezuelan makeup artist who was deported to El Salvador seeks asylum in Spain: ‘I feel safe here’
The Guardian·May 22, 2026·archived copy
- BREAKING: Andry Hernández Romero, gay asylum seeker disappeared by Trump, part of prisoner swap
advocate.com·Jul 19, 2025·archived copy
- Gay Venezuelan asylum seeker Andry Hernández Romero is freed from jail | PRIDE Daily
- Andry Hernandez Romero released from El Salvador, returned to Venezuela
qnotescarolinas.com·Jul 24, 2025·archived copy
- Gay Makeup Artist Freed From Salvadoran Prison
metroweekly.com·Jul 25, 2025·archived copy
- Gay Venezuelan asylum-seeker ‘disappeared’ to Salvadoran mega-prison under Trump order, Maddow reveals
advocate.com·Mar 21, 2025·archived copy
- Gay Make-up Artist With No Criminal History Sent to El Salvador Mega Prison by Trump Administration!
inquisitr.com·Apr 7, 2025·archived copy
- irishstar.com
- Deported Makeup Artist Andry Hernández Romero’s American Nightmare
businessoffashion.com·Sep 25, 2025·archived copy
- theolivepress.es
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