Venezuelan makeup artist returns home, after spending four months in El Salvador’s CECOT prison, where he, along with other detainees, claims to have endured brutal treatment. The details that have emerged paint a grim picture of life inside the facility, including allegations of beatings, rubber projectile attacks, solitary confinement in dark cells, and the provision of spoiled food. Andry Hernandez, the makeup artist at the heart of this story, is now back in Venezuela, finally reunited with his loved ones after the ordeal. He, along with other detainees, was part of a prisoner exchange that saw them return to their home country last Friday.… Continue reading
According to new court filings, the Salvadoran government informed United Nations investigators that the Trump administration retains control over a group of Venezuelan men deported from the U.S. to a controversial prison, directly contradicting prior public statements. Salvadoran authorities stated that the U.S. maintains “jurisdiction and legal responsibility” for the detainees, despite the deportations occurring after a judge’s order to halt the flights. Lawyers for the deportees are using this information to argue against the administration’s claim that they are no longer responsible for the men. The U.S. had previously paid El Salvador to detain the migrants under a controversial agreement, further complicating the legal battles surrounding the deportations.
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New court documents reveal that Kilmar Ábrego García, wrongfully deported to El Salvador, endured severe physical and psychological torture during his three-month detention at the notorious Cecot prison. He was forced to kneel for extended periods, denied basic necessities, and held in overcrowded, windowless cells under constant bright lights. Despite prison officials acknowledging his lack of gang affiliation, they threatened his safety while also staging photos to appear as though conditions had improved. Ábrego García faces human-smuggling charges in the U.S., while legal battles continue over his potential deportation to a third country.
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem refused to confirm the well-being of Andry Hernández Romero, a gay makeup artist deported to a notorious Salvadoran prison, claiming it falls outside her jurisdiction. Despite a multi-million dollar U.S. agreement with El Salvador to house such detainees, Noem’s assertion contradicts the administration’s acknowledged ability to check on individuals in the facility. Hernández Romero, who passed a credible fear interview for asylum, was deported based on unsubstantiated gang allegations, highlighting a legal battle over “constructive custody.” His case underscores concerns over the Trump administration’s deportation practices and the lack of accountability for those sent to CECOT.
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Rep. Matt Gaetz, during a July 2024 visit to El Salvador’s notorious mega-prison, CECOT, proposed using the facility to house migrants to Stephen Miller, a top Trump advisor. This suggestion, subsequently relayed to Trump, involved a deal brokered by the State Department with El Salvador’s President Bukele, despite human rights concerns surrounding CECOT. Trump expressed support for the plan, even suggesting the imprisonment of U.S. citizens in CECOT. The plan’s implementation has already resulted in the deportation of individuals to the prison, prompting legal challenges and sparking outrage.
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Migrants held in Texas are terrified. Their fear isn’t abstract; it’s centered on the very real possibility of deportation to El Salvador’s CECOT maximum-security prison, a facility with a reputation so grim it sends shivers down the spine. The thought of this notorious prison hangs heavy in the air, casting a pall over their already precarious situation.
The fear is palpable, a chilling undercurrent running through the lives of these Venezuelan detainees. The specter of CECOT looms large, a constant threat whispering promises of violence and despair. It’s a fear that transcends simple apprehension; it’s a deep-seated dread rooted in the well-documented brutality associated with the prison.… Continue reading
A 60 Minutes investigation refutes the Trump administration’s claim that 238 Venezuelan men deported to El Salvador’s CECOT prison are terrorists or gang members. The investigation revealed that 75% of the men had no known criminal records. The administration’s justification relies on flimsy evidence, such as social media posts and tattoos, while withholding supposedly incriminating information. This lack of evidence suggests the deportations serve primarily as political propaganda to deter illegal immigration. The administration’s efforts to conceal this lack of evidence are increasingly undermined by revealed instances of wrongful deportations.
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Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, initially admitted as an “administrative error,” highlights the Trump administration’s disregard for legal protections and human rights. This inhumane practice, exemplified by the case of Venezuelan makeup artist Andry Hernández Romero, wrongly linked to a gang based on tattoos, has sent hundreds to the brutal CECOT facility. Despite congressional efforts to secure information about Hernández Romero, his fate remains unknown, underscoring the administration’s callousness and the erosion of human rights for non-citizens. These cases represent a severe humanitarian crisis and a potential constitutional violation.
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Four House Democrats, self-funding their trip after Republicans blocked public funds, visited El Salvador to advocate for the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and other individuals deported there under the Trump administration, defying a Supreme Court order. Their visit, spurred by Senator Van Hollen’s prior trip confirming Abrego Garcia’s survival, focused on securing proof of life and legal representation for detainees, including Andry José Hernández Romero. The delegation delivered letters to the State Department demanding action and emphasized the broader implications of the Trump administration’s actions for due process and the rule of law. This action highlights the ongoing struggle to address the plight of hundreds unjustly deported, even amidst other pressing domestic issues.
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Following his brother Adrián’s birthday call on March 13th, Nedizon Alejandro Leon Rengel launched a frantic five-week search after Adrián’s unexplained detention by federal agents. Despite inconsistent information from ICE, authorities ultimately confirmed Adrián’s deportation to El Salvador, a claim his family vehemently denies. The Department of Homeland Security alleges Adrián’s association with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, a claim based on tattoos and unsupported by evidence, leading to his deportation despite having applied for protected status and possessing only a minor drug paraphernalia charge. The family fears Adrián’s placement in the notorious CECOT prison.
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Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker