A coalition of 52 Democrats is demanding proof that gay asylum-seeker Andry Hernández Romero is still alive. 

Robert Garcia, who is himself gay, has been joined by 51 other lawmakers to demand that secretary of state Marco Rubio intervene in the case of the gay hairdresser, who was deported to a mega prison in El Salvador – despite having no criminal record – under the US government’s crackdown on alleged Venezuelan gang members. 

In a letter dated 9 June, members of congress pressed the State Department to “conduct a wellness check on Mr Hernández Romero, facilitate his access to legal counsel and immediately facilitate his release”. 

The letter referred to secretary of homeland security Kristi Noem’s refusal to confirm that Romero was still alive.

“No mother should have to worry that their child will be forcibly disappeared from the United States without due process or whether their son is even alive and healthy because of the actions of the United States government,” the letter read. 

‘We betrayed him’

In an interview with the Advocate, Garcia expressed regret that the story was being under-reported. 

“Pride month is an opportunity to highlight his story even more,” the California representative said. “The more folks learn about it, the more they’ll put pressure on the administration and homeland security to do the right thing.”

He compared the case to that of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man the administration has admitted sending to El Salvador in error.

“Andry’s case is unique,” Garcia continued. “Being gay is the reason he left his country. We have a process in the United States. He went through his first interview here, which basically gave him clearance to move forward in the process. And yet we betrayed him – and our values at the same time.”

Rallies were held across California last month in support of Romero, with LGBTQ+ leaders demanding he be returned to the US to seek asylum. Even controversial right-wing podcaster Joe Rogan came to his defence. 

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