Protests Erupt in California for Deported Gay Venezuelan Artist

LGBTQ+ advocates and community leaders in California have rallied in support of Andry Jose Hernandez Romero, a gay Venezuelan makeup artist who sought asylum in the U.S. but was deported to a notorious maximum-security prison in El Salvador under the Trump administration’s crackdown on alleged gang members. Despite following legal procedures to seek asylum, Hernandez Romero was detained and labeled a security threat due to his tattoos, which authorities claimed linked him to a Venezuelan gang, though his family and lawyers deny any criminal or gang ties. Activists and legal experts argue he was denied due process and fear his deportation to harsh prison conditions amounts to a human rights violation and possibly a death sentence. West Hollywood Mayor Chelsea Byers and leaders from major LGBTQ+ organizations have highlighted the injustice and called for his safe return, emphasizing the broader risks faced by marginalized asylum seekers. Demonstrations in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco have drawn attention to his plight and the broader implications of mass deportation policies. The case has become a focal point for criticism of the administration’s treatment of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and the alleged misuse of gang affiliation as grounds for deportation.