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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
@reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
Andry Hernández Romero, the innocent make-up artist imprisoned without trial for 4 months in El Salvador by the Trump admin, is FREE.
He was wrongfully accused of being a gang member because of his “mom” and “dad” tattoos, and illegally sent to El Salvador without due process.
Bulwark confirms that Andry José Hernández Romero, the gay stylist deported to CECOT, survived and is back in Venezuela.
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
July 18, 2025 at 5:55 PM
2K reposts
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He had not yet been ordered deported. He had a pending hearing in his immigration court case where he would have argued for asylum. Before that happened, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act and he was sent to be imprisoned in El Salvador.
I am not sure of his initial status before being disappeared to CECOT, was he deportable to Venezuela, but they weren’t accepting deportations!
Okay, quick recap of what happened. As a reminder, Andry was detained at a port of entry in late 2024 by CBP because of his tattoos.
He had a pending asylum hearing in his immigration court case. Before that happened, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act and imprisoned him in El Salvador.
DHS officers accused Andry of being in Tren de Aragua because his “mom” and “dad” tattoos had little crowns over them.
A DHS guide told officers that Tren de Aragua often had crown tattoos. So immigration officers started declaring that Venezuelans with crown tattoos were “verified gang members.”
NEW: ACLU's filing on Friday also shows the impact of these bad gang tattoo claims. Specifically, remember Andry, the gay make-up artist we sent to rot in a prison in El Salvador?
Here are the tattoos that an ICE officer declared were "Consistent with those of a Tren de Aragua member."
When Trump illegally invoked the wartime Alien Enemies Act against Tren de Aragua, DHS hastily threw together a “validation guide” with a ridiculously low threshold to decide who could be imprisoned in El Salvador.
But here’s the really wild thing; Tren de Aragua doesn’t even use gang tattoos!
NEW: @aclu.org obtained ICE's "Alien Enemies Act Validation Guide," confirming all it takes to be sent to rot in prison in El Salvador is being Venezuelan and 1) having a tattoo an ICE officer says is a "gang tattoo" and 2) displaying "logos," "symbols" or clothes an ICE officer says are gang signs.
It was bad enough that Andry was detained under the Biden admin based on a Keystone Cops level of a misreading of his tattoos, but at least he could still seek asylum.
Being imprisoned in El Salvador took that chance away too. His immigration court case was quietly dismissed in late May.
His lawyers will now be able to speak with him for the first time in four months. He likely has no idea that his case has made him internationally known.
Personally, I hope he can recover eventually from this nightmare; being wrongfully turned into a pawn for political reasons.
Andry’s case is Exhibit Number 1 for why due process matters.
No independent decision-maker, looking at evidence, ever found that he was a gang member. It was all some low-level immigration officers and staff at detention centers. Then suddenly, imprisonment without warning.
There will be more twists and turns in the legal cases surrounding the Venezuelans that the Trump administration paid El Salvador to imprison.
Some men may seek to come back to the United States to get the due process they were denied. At least one is married to a citizen and many have family here.
NEW: As many as 252 Venezuelans, deported by the U.S. to a notorious Salvadoran prison, could be returned to the U.S. for further legal proceedings, under a diplomatic arrangement tied to today’s prisoner swap, the Trump admin indicated in court tonight
www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
The founders put in the Declaration of Independence specific grievances denial of due process and shipping people out of the country to avoid legal appeals. That was in protest of King George now down by King Trump. apple.news/AFTFGW-V7QcG...
Bukele was always going to make sure that the prisoners that were bargaining chips survived in reasonable condition while in his custody.
This is the best news I’ve heard in a while. I hope he gets medical and psychological care after what he’s been through. He deserves nothing but peace and love from here on out.
He's prolly in MORE danger in the US.
I am so thrilled that he and the others are out. Genuinely. But many were seeking asylum from Venezuela and that’s where we ultimately sent them (following months of torture). What a mess.
This is fantastic news. I really thought he might not have made it. I've thought of him every day since he was taken.
I’m glad he is free, but worry for his safety back in Venezuela❤️
Here is a pic of Andry I took screenshot when on Bulwark call. This is him walking on or off plane today. Happy tears 🥲
Is he safe? Does he have a lawyer and family and protection? Best news today! Thanks for sharing!
Some one please tell him we’re sorry. I am so glad he is free. I have been thinking of him every day…
i'm glad he's out of that slavery camp but now he's just in Venezuela without due process instead of in el Salvador without due process
God damn I’m embarrassed for my country. Just so disappointed. How weak and stupid the click bate congress is, we have Kim Jong Un laughing at us and Putin is getting his way with his bitch DJT, swallow that turd my military retiree friends, can you believe this shit? Seriously, in the USA, this
✊⚖️ Thanks to everyone fighting for rights & Justice
He will likely be amazed at the support he was getting.
Y’all are idiots. He fled Venezuela because he was scared for his life as a gay man. He is back there now. The trump administration is evil just for this one man’s treatment alone.
It’s a better option than life imprisonment in Cecot.
This is fantastic. Though doesn’t he have a credible fear in El Salvador?
Here’s a thought, we bring him back here. What’s the worst that could happen, we get fabulous hair?
Great news. I hope he is returned here or Canada.
Oh my gosh, I am so thankful to hear this! I was so afraid he wasn't even alive anymore. No telling what that guy has been through. 🙏
The US, Venezuela, and El Salvador are apparently exchanging prisoners. US citizens are returning from Venezuela to the US. In return, El Salvador is releasing Venezuelan prisoners. "Ten Americans who were detained in Venezuela are on their way to freedom," Rubio said on X on Friday.
And he wasn’t any safer in the US than in Venezuela. Arguably he is safer there. So many reasons for shame on the United States.
....back in the country he fled because he feared for his safety, but okay. It's better than being imprisoned in El Salvador.
That poor guy is more than likely going to be suffering from PTSD after the treatment he received from ICE, guards and other inmates. So happy for him. I would love to see Nuremberg style trials happen and hopefully lock up the scum that are doing this.
would love to know what this whole painful and useless exercise has cost taxpayers (so far...) while we are busy defunding public television and other media outlets, among other atrocious cuts to services and agencies Americans depend on
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is it true? Is it true? Oh my god I’m crying.
I am not sure of his initial status before being disappeared to CECOT, was he deportable to Venezuela, but they weren’t accepting deportations!
He was awaiting his asylum trial after presenting to the border legally, at a legal point of entry, and passing a credible fear interview process, facing lgbtq and political persecution in Venezuela. This man was completely innocent and we ruined his life.
So glad he survived. His treatment is a stain on our country.
A relief, sort of, but what will happen now that he’s back!