Love Letter to Andry
Andry José Hernández Romero, a gay Venezuelan makeup artist known for creativity, positivity and community spirit, made the difficult decision to leave his country to seek safety and protection after experiencing persecution and violence due to his sexual orientation and political beliefs. Andry made the long, treacherous journey through many counties and the Darien Gap to legally enter the U.S. through the CBP One application process.
He was detained in San Diego due to two tattoos on his wrists, two crowns that the government claimed to be an affiliation to the Tren De Aragua gang — however, they failed to recognize that below each crown reads “mom” and “dad” and refuse to listen to experts who have repeatedly debunked tattoo identifiers in the Tren De Aragua.
Since Andry was a child, he has been a part of the “Los Reyes Magos” (Three Kings Day) Christian/Catholic Festival in his hometown as an actor, costume designer and makeup artist. His crown tattoos pay homage to this community event he’s grown up with, and a nod to the beauty pageants he’s been a makeup artist for over the years.
Immigrant Defenders Law Center then took on his asylum case, but as they were awaiting his next hearing, the US government did not bring him to his hearing — the hearing that the US government GAVE him. Instead, they unlawfully removed Andry and 237 other migrants when the Trump Administration enacted the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, without due process and forcibly sent them to maximum-security prison, CECOT, in El Salvador — which has been questioned for human rights abuses including violence, torture, lack of medical attention, and neglect that have resulted in death.
This decision was signed off by Charles Cross Jr., a disgraced former cop and now CoreCivic employee, who was fired after driving his car into a family’s home while intoxicated. Cross was also investigated for domestic violence and claiming overtime he allegedly did not earn. Only a few months after being fired, he was hired by CoreCivic.
The only “grounds” for this decision are the aforementioned tattoos. Andry has no criminal record, his only “crime” is being himself and seeking safety to be able to be himself and thrive — not be afraid to survive.
It has now been over 90 DAYS since his legal team or family has heard his voice or been able to see him. The concern for his safety and survival in CECOT grows every day.
Andry’s case sits at the heart of the ongoing fight for immigrant rights, LGBTQ rights, and due process under U.S. law.
Congressman Robert Garcia brought attention to this case to the Department of Homeland Security, to request a “proof-of-life” check as his lawyers and family have been unable to confirm whether Andry is still alive.
Begging Secretary Kristi Noem, Garcia pleaded, “His mother just wants to know if he is alive...would you commit to just letting his mother know — mother to mother — if Andry is alive?”
Noem responded by saying Andry’s case was simply not her problem and out of her jurisdiction, deferring them to talk to the president of El Salvador instead. Noem has publicly stated in the past that CECOT is “one of the tools in our toolkits” and absolutely has the power to do a simple wellness check to see whether Andry is alive.
Garcia has not given up — this past Monday, June 9, he and 51 other lawmakers submitted a letter demanding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio intervene to:
1. immediately conduct a wellness check
2. facilitate access to his legal counsel and
3. secure his release.
“The United States government, alone, is responsible for Mr. Hernández Romero’s imprisonment,” they wrote in the letter.
The last sighting of Andry is in a 60 Minutes special when he first arrived to CECOT — Philip Holsinger, TIME Magazine photojournalist, helped identify Andry and said he was crying out, “I’m not a gang member. I’m gay. I’m a stylist,” and was crying for his mother as officers forcibly shaved his head and slapped him.
Honorary Grand Marshall
Pride Cat is naming Andry José Hernández Romero as Honorary Grand Marshall in an effort to call attention to the injustice around his case and support the demands for 1. an immediate wellness check 2. his access to legal counsel and 3. his release.
We have consulted with Andry’s defense team and family, via Cleve Jones as proxy, and have their blessing to name Andry as our Honorary Grand Marshall. They want us to keep talking about Andry and the injustices the Administration is committing against him and so many others and use our voices and take action.
This decision also comes after Cleve Jones and Nicole Murray Ramirez, lifelong LGBTQ+ activists, asked SF Pride to name Andry as Honorary Grand Marshall of the event, that their team ultimately refused.
Given this decision, SF Pride’s theme of “Queer Joy is Resistance” falls tone-deaf. While I strongly believe in the importance and power of queer joy being a form of resistance, I believe this year we need to be in the mindset of “Resistance is Resistance”.
Thus, birthing the Pride Cat V theme, “Resistance = Resistance”.
We can’t let this moment pass quietly.
Because this isn’t just about one person — it’s about all of us. We need solidarity now more than ever. As a queer person myself, I believe it is our responsibility to stand up for the most vulnerable and marginalized members of our communities.
We must use our voices for those whose voices are being silenced. We must use our privileges in any and all ways we can to call attention to these injustices that are inherently interconnected.
“If they come for me in the morning, they will come for you in the night.”
-Angela Davis
Resistance takes many forms, it’s not just protesting. Fundraise, donate, volunteer, build community, join mutual aid efforts, speak out, use whatever platform you have, support independent media prioritizing truth, educate yourself and share your knowledge, contact your legislators, etc, etc, etc.
Our voices matter. Our actions matter.
Solidarity and collective action is all we have. And it is what will free us.
Their goal is to divide us. Division only benefits those in positions of power.
But when we come together, link arms, and stand up, we take that power back.
The power of the people is stronger together.
We hope you’ll join us at Pride Cat to raise funds for The LGBT Asylum Project and Oasis Legal Services, two local organizations that provide pro-bono/low cost legal representation and social services to queer asylum seekers.
Thank you for reading.
Free Andry
Free Palestine
No one is free until we are all free.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
