Venezuelan makeup artist deported to El Salvador seeks asylum in Spain: ‘I feel safe here’

Andry José Hernández Romero was deported from the US to El Salvador’s notorious Cecot prison before he was allowed to return to Venezuela

Venezuelan makeup artist deported to El Salvador seeks asylum in Spain: ‘I feel safe here’

TL;DR

  • Andry José Hernández Romero, a Venezuelan migrant, has requested asylum in Spain after being deported from the US to El Salvador's Cecot prison.
  • Hernández fled Venezuela due to persecution as a gay man and opposition to the government, and was deported from the US without due process, accused of gang ties.
  • He endured alleged abuse in Cecot before being released and returning to Venezuela, where he later feared for his safety after a job offer from the vice-president's office.
  • Hernández believes Spain offers a more welcoming environment for immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community, contrasting it with the US and Venezuela.
  • His lawyer highlights the lack of evidence for the gang affiliation accusations and the difficulty in clearing his name within the US legal system.