Andry Hernández Romero, the Venezuelan gay makeup artist controversially deported from the U.S. to El Salvador’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison, has returned to his native Venezuela and is now speaking out about the horrific sexual and physical abuse he endured during his detention.
Hernández Romero, who had been seeking asylum in the United States due to persecution as a gay man and for his political beliefs in Venezuela, was among a group of Venezuelan migrants sent to CECOT under the U.S. “Alien Enemies Act.” His case drew international concern when he disappeared, with human rights advocates and U.S. Congressman Robert Garcia raising alarms about his whereabouts and the grim conditions within the Salvadoran mega-prison.
Upon his recent release and return to Venezuela as part of a prisoner exchange, Hernández Romero has revealed a harrowing ordeal inside CECOT. “On May 23rd, 2024, I left my house with a suitcase full of dreams, with dreams of helping my people, of helping my family,” Hernández Romero stated.
“Unfortunately, that suitcase of dreams turned into a suitcase of nightmares, a nightmare that I thought would never end. But today I can say that the torture and that the nightmare are over, and I am happy again.”
He explicitly described enduring severe mistreatment, telling reporters, “We were going through torture, physical aggressions, psychological aggressions. I was sexually abused.” Accounts from others detained alongside him indicate a systematic environment of abuse, including prolonged isolation, lack of due process, and severe physical mistreatment.
A photojournalist present during his arrival at CECOT recounted hearing a young man, identified as Hernández Romero, say, “I’m not a gang member. I’m gay. I’m a stylist,” as he was reportedly slapped and had his head shaved.
His family and legal team had previously expressed grave fears for his safety, particularly given his identity as a gay man in a highly restrictive and often violent prison environment. Concerns were amplified by previous reports of persecution he experienced as a gay man even within U.S. ICE detention facilities.
Hernández Romero’s vivid and deeply disturbing account adds to a growing chorus of allegations of human rights abuses within CECOT, a facility built under El Salvador’s controversial “state of exception” aimed at combating gang violence.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Cristosal, have consistently highlighted concerns about arbitrary detentions, torture, and denial of legal access for prisoners in El Salvador.
The Venezuelan government has reportedly launched an investigation into the alleged torture of its citizens in Salvadoran prisons following their return.
Hernández Romero’s powerful decision to speak out is expected to intensify calls for international scrutiny and accountability regarding human rights in Salvadoran detention facilities, especially for vulnerable individuals like LGBTQ+ migrants.
