California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Condemns Trump’s Wrongful Deportation of Andry José Hernández Romero & Demands Proof of Life
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2025
LGBTQ Caucus Contacts: Natalia Garcia & Jacob Fraker | Jacob.Fraker@sen.ca.gov & Natalia.Garcia@asm.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO, CA — The California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, released the following statement condemning President Trump’s deportation of Andry José Hernández Romero, a Venezuelan individual with a pending asylum case:
“As the Trump Administration continues its unconscionable mass deportations of individuals without affording them due process rights, we, LGBTQ+ State Legislators, want to especially condemn President Trump and his Administration’s deportation of Andry José Hernández Romero. Mr. Hernández Romero is an individual from Venezuela who has a pending asylum case in the United States. He had been following all requested steps to seek asylum, and was deported from a detention facility right here in California where he willingly was waiting to have his case heard.
As a gay man Mr. Hernández Romero had faced credible threats against him back in Venezuela due to his sexual orientation and political beliefs. In spite of this, a police officer – with a history of credibility and disciplinary issues – reported Mr. Hernández Romero because of his mom-and-dad tattoos.
Everyone in this country deserves due process and equal protection under the law. It is not surprising to us that President Trump and his administration – which has a track record of circumventing constitutional and civil rights – is once again evading its sworn obligation to uphold individuals’ rights afforded to them in the United States. In fact the President himself has publicly mentioned they do not have the capacity to provide everyone their time in court, a clear constitutional violation.
As fellow members of the LGBTQ+ community, our hearts and prayers go out to Mr. Hernández Romero and his loved ones. We can only imagine what he and others wrongfully detained and deported are undergoing at facilities like the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorism (CECOT) – known for human rights violations. We fully condemn the Trump Administration’s deportation of Mr. Hernández Romero as well as condemn the Salvadorean government for actively participating in this heinous abuse of human rights. We further call on proof of Mr. Hernández Romero’s life but also for his safe return.”
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About the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus
California’s Legislative LGBTQ Caucus was formed in 2002 to create a forum for California Legislators to discuss issues that affect LGBTQ Californians and to further the goal of equality and justice for all Californians. California became the first state in the United States to officially form a caucus of openly-LBGTQ state legislators and continues to be a leader of progress for all Americans. In 2025, our membership hit a new milestone of 14 members, maintaining its position as one of the largest LGBTQ Caucus in the Nation, and continues to remain strong. Despite tremendous progress and an unprecedented swell of support for the LGBTQ community worldwide, there is still much work to do to protect and uplift the most vulnerable in our community. The LGBTQ Caucus strives to advocate for diversity and inclusion of all people, including differently abled bodies. Our Caucus is working diligently to support LGBTQ leaders that represent our community at the local, state, and federal levels.
For more information on the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, please visit https://lgbtqcaucus.legislature.ca.gov/