A soccer ball with a crown atop it, a trendy eyeball design, and floral patterns — these are among the tattoos that defense attorneys claim led to the expedited deportation of approximately 200 Venezuelan men over the weekend. These men were alleged to be affiliated with the notorious gang Tren de Aragua.
President Donald Trump ordered the deportation of these individuals to a feared prison in El Salvador, using an 18th-century wartime law that permits the removal of noncitizens without due process. Trump justified the use of this law, asserting that the gang’s activities constituted an “invasion” of the United States.
Many legal experts, however, have dismissed this rationale, arguing that the government has not substantiated its claims with evidence proving these men are gang members. The affected individuals were deported from the U.S. before they could even consult with their lawyers.
While tattoos can serve as identifiers of gang affiliation in some Latin American gangs—most notably the facial markings associated with El Salvador’s MS-13—Tren de Aragua is not particularly connected with tattoos as a form of representation. Globally, tattoos are widely recognized as a form of artistic expression rather than gang insignia.
Some law enforcement officials point to crown tattoos as possible symbols of membership in Tren de Aragua or the U.S.-based Latin Kings gang. Yet, thousands of crown tattoo designs can be found online, marketed as adding an “elegant touch” to any appearance. Furthermore, stars and clocks frequently identified as gang signals are actually common tattoo choices that often carry no criminal connotations at all.
Karla Ostolaza, managing director at The Bronx Defenders in New York City, has represented many Latin American immigrants who were unfairly targeted for their attire or body art, such as Michael Jordan T-shirts or simple tattoos. She emphasized that tattoos, while unnoticed in a typical U.S. suburban setting, may wrongfully label their bearers as dangerous when considering their nationality.
U.S. officials maintain that agents did not solely depend on tattoos as evidence for identifying gang members in the recent deportations. However, both attorneys and families of the deported assert that tattoos were often cited as a basis for belonging to Tren de Aragua.
One such case is that of J.G.G., as referenced in court documents, who was allegedly identified through his tattoos. He reportedly searched online for designs he found aesthetically pleasing, including an eyeball, testifying to its “cool” appearance, according to a submission by his legal team.
Another example involves Jerce Reyes Barrios, 36, whose lawyer stated that authorities partly determined his gang affiliation due to his tattoo of a crown over a soccer ball, which also includes the word “Dios,” meaning “God.” Reyes Barrios, a former professional soccer player, selected the tattoo because it mirrored his favorite soccer team, the Spanish club Real Madrid, as his lawyer Linette Tobin explained. The tattoo closely resembles the Real Madrid crest, as depicted in the evidence.