Documents Reveal Trump Admin Used Tattoos, Clothing to Link Migrants to Gangs

The Trump administration has implemented a controversial approach to deport Venezuelan migrants, categorizing them as members of a violent gang called Tren de Aragua based on superficial criteria. Court documents reveal that the basis for deportation includes tattoos and specific clothing associated with the gang. This month, over 100 individuals were targeted under the Alien Enemies Act, stripping them of due process.

A newly surfaced “Alien Enemy Validation Guide” outlines a points system for gang identification. For instance, admitting to gang affiliation scores 10 points, while tattoos or wearing urban street attire can add four points each. In bizarre instances, immigrants are being linked to gang membership simply for sporting high-end basketball jerseys.

High-profile cases highlight potential injustices. One migrant, Andry Jose Hernandez Romero, a professional makeup artist, faces deportation because of tattoos dedicated to his parents, misconstrued as gang symbols. Legal representatives assert that these practices are misapplications of the law, arguing that they deny migrants the chance to contest unfair claims.

Concurrently, a federal judge has temporarily halted these deportations, raising questions about the administration’s adherence to legal protocols. The administration’s reliance on state secrets to block court-ordered disclosures has added to tensions, sparking debates about executive overreach in immigration enforcement. This situation is poised to escalate further, drawing attention to the balance between national security and individual rights.