Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39) recently met virtually with Andry José Hernández Romero, a Venezuelan asylum seeker and gay man who was wrongfully deported and imprisoned in the notorious Salvadoran prison known as CECOT.
Although Andry has since been released, his harrowing story of survival sheds light on a shocking case of due process violations by the U.S. government.
Andry came to the United States seeking asylum to escape persecution in Venezuela because of his sexual orientation and political beliefs. Despite his pending asylum claim, the Trump Administration, without due process, illegally sent him and over 250 other Venezuelans to CECOT, a prison known for its brutal conditions.
While there, Andry endured daily assaults and abuse.
“What the American government did to Andry and others is a stain on the moral fabric of our nation,” said Rep. Takano.
“The Trump Administration violated the Constitution and our values by secretly disappearing people into a foreign prison where they were subject to assaults and abuse. No one should ever be subjected to this cruelty, let alone those who came here seeking freedom and safety. Andry’s bravery in telling his story is a call to action for all of us to defend due process and the Constitution.”
Andry shared his own account of the ordeal. “We were lied to by ICE officials and then greeted in CECOT with beatings,” he said. “At every step of the way, they abused us. But being Venezuelan is not a crime. I’m grateful to Congressman Takano who has called for justice for the 252 Venezuelan men sent to CECOT without the opportunity to present their case in immigration court. This story won’t end until justice is achieved.”
Congressman Takano has been a leading advocate for Andry and others affected by these policies. He previously introduced legislation to prohibit federal funding to CECOT and led a Special Order Hour on the House floor to highlight Andry’s story. While Andry’s physical imprisonment may be over, the fight for justice continues as his legal team seeks accountability for the gross violations of his rights.
