A gay Venezuelan migrant, Andry Jose Hernández Romero, who was forcibly deported from the US to El Salvador in 2020, remains in detention at a notorious facility with questionable human rights conditions. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s testimony has sparked outrage among activists and lawyers representing Romero.
Hernández Romero is currently a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit against former President Donald Trump for his role in the forced deportation. The lawsuit alleges that the US government was aware of the migrants’ detention at the facility, but did not provide them with adequate care or protection.
Last week, US District Court Judge James E. Boasberg ruled that news reports and statements from El Salvador’s government could be used as evidence to support the claim that the detainees were being held at the facility on behalf of the US government.
However, prosecutors have objected to discovery, arguing that it is unwarranted and inappropriate. The court will consider whether to allow further investigation into the detention conditions.
San Francisco Pride has also reached out to the lawyers representing Hernández Romero, but declined to honor him as an honorary grand marshal. Instead, they are expected to discuss the case at their upcoming Human Rights Summit during Pride week in June.
Human rights activists have criticized Secretary Blinken’s testimony as “evil” and a clear indication of the US government’s disregard for migrant rights. The case highlights the ongoing struggles faced by asylum seekers and LGBTQ+ individuals in the US immigration system.
Source: https://www.ebar.com/story/154682