Venezuelan Deportee Andry Hernández Romero Seeks Asylum in Spain After 253-Men US El Salvador Transfer
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 22
Venezuelan Deportee Andry Hernández Romero Seeks Asylum in Spain After 253-Men US El Salvador Transfer
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 22
Summary
33-year-old Andry José Hernández Romero has moved to southern Spain and is due at his first asylum hearing within days, saying he feels safe there after rejecting a return to the US legal fight.
Spain became his refuge after he said Venezuelan officials approached his family home in August 2025 following his refusal of a job offer from the vice-president’s office, reviving fears of surveillance and persecution.
Hernández was among 253 Venezuelans flown from the US to El Salvador’s Cecot prison last year under Trump’s immigration crackdown; he says gang allegations were false and based in part on crown tattoos.
His lawyers say he still cannot clear his name in US court after an appeals court blocked further inquiry into whether the administration defied a judge’s order on the deportation flights.
Spain offers a more favorable path: Venezuelans were the largest group seeking protection there in 2025, and more than 25,000 had applied for asylum by April 30 this year.
What international recourse exists for asylum seekers wrongfully deported by one country to a prison in another?
How does outsourcing migrant imprisonment to third countries impact global diplomacy and human rights standards?
Mistaken for a gang member over a tattoo, how can an individual prove their innocence when trapped between nations?
252 Venezuelans Deported, One Story: Andry Hernández Romero’s Fight for Asylum and Justice in Spain (2023–2026)
Overview
Andry Hernández Romero’s asylum bid in Spain in May 2026 highlights the growing challenges faced by Venezuelan migrants. As Venezuela’s situation worsened, tens of thousands of Venezuelans applied for asylum in Spain, overwhelming the system and turning a temporary issue into a long-term structural challenge. The Spanish asylum process became a major bottleneck due to limited resources, leading to significant backlogs both in Spain and across the European Union. Andry’s case unfolds within this pressured environment, reflecting the broader struggles of Venezuelan asylum seekers navigating a system strained by persistent demand and slow processing.