CAPACHO (Venezuela), Sept 7 — Andry Hernandez thought love would carry him to a new life in the United States with a man he met on Instagram. Instead, a pair of tattoos meant to celebrate his hometown traditions led him to one of the world’s harshest prisons.
CAPACHO (Venezuela), Sept 7 — Andry Hernandez thought love would carry him to a new life in the United States with a man he met on Instagram. Instead, a pair of tattoos meant to celebrate his hometown traditions led him to one of the world’s harshest prisons.
The 32-year-old Venezuelan stylist became a symbol of Donald Trump’s migrant crackdown when he was arrested and deported alongside 251 others, accused of gang ties over two wrist tattoos depicting crowns. US officials linked them to Venezuela’s feared Tren de Aragua crime syndicate, despite Andry’s explanation that they symbolised the Catholic Three Kings Day festival in Capacho Nuevo, where he designs costumes.
Deported in shackles under Trump’s renewed mass expulsion drive, Andry spent four months at El Salvador’s notorious Terrorist Confinement Center (Cecot), where he says he endured torture, beatings and sexual assault. He was later freed in a prisoner exchange and returned to Venezuela in July, welcomed home as a survivor.
Andry had risked everything for Paul Diaz, a 49-year-old psychologist in Philadelphia. The two had met online and fallen in love, exchanging matching bracelets and planning a life together. Paul, wracked with guilt, told AFP: “He sacrificed himself for love.”
Despite his trauma, Andry still dreams of reuniting with Paul. For now, he is considering opening a beauty salon in Capacho while continuing their relationship through video calls.
“You have to face reality. He’s there, I’m here,” Andry said, tears welling, before adding that if he ever had another chance to emigrate to the US, “I would go.” — AFP
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