June 2025 Action

Amnesty International has initiated the following campaign to advocate for the return of Andry José Hernández Romero and others who have been expelled from the United States without due process and in direct violation of established legal process and the principle of non-refoulment. Andry, like many others expelled to the notoriously inhuman CECOT in Venezuela, already engaged in legal proceedings for their asylum, had no criminal record or ties to criminal gangs, and also had already been granted legal protections under US law. Beyond this, further transfer to Venezuela would be in violation to international law.

Write to Secretary of Homeland Security to immediately return Andry and all others, ensure they can continue their immigration proceedings in the US, and halt any further expulsions.

Write to:

Secretary of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528

Sample Letter (personalize as desired):

Secretary Noem,

I am extremely concerned over the recent unlawful expulsions of individuals from the United States to El Salvador under the purported authority of the Alien Enemies Act, including Andry José Hernández Romero.

Despite a court order prohibiting their removal, 261 individuals were expelled to El Salvador in March 2025. These individuals include people who were engaged in ongoing legal proceedings, had no criminal record or ties to a gang, or had already been granted protection under U.S. law, including as required under the Convention Against Torture. Many were expelled without removal orders, a violation of established legal processes. Even more disturbingly, these individuals have been transferred to the Centro de Confinamiento Contra el Terrorismo (CECOT), a prison notorious for its inhumane conditions. Most of the families of those unlawfully sent to El Salvador have not received any official information about their loved ones’ whereabouts.

The United States must uphold the principle of non-refoulement, which unequivocally prohibits states from returning, removing, or transferring individuals to any country where they would face a real risk of serious human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention, torture or other ill-treatment. By expelling these individuals to El Salvador, the U.S. government has placed them in grave danger. Further removals, particularly any subsequent transfer to Venezuela, would constitute additional violations of international law.

I urge you to immediately return those that were illegally removed to El Salvador so that they can continue their immigration proceedings in the U.S., and halt any subsequent expulsions, complying with the decisions of U.S. courts.

Sincerely,