Venezuelan migrants are allegedly misidentified as gang members primarily due to their tattoos, leading to wrongful deportation to a Salvadoran prison. Families contend that these tattoos symbolize familial love rather than criminal association. U.S. authorities have provided limited evidence for their claims, and experts question this approach, highlighting the expansive tragedy faced by millions fleeing Venezuela’s turmoil.
Lawyers and family members of Venezuelans imprisoned in a notorious Salvadoran mega-jail believe these individuals were wrongfully classified as gang members due to their tattoos. Jhon Chacin, a tattoo artist, boasts various designs, including family names and symbols. He was detained while attempting to enter the United States illegally last year and subsequently deported. He now finds himself among 238 men labeled as members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, a terrorist organization under U.S. law, and his family is distraught over the mislabeling.
Chacin’s sister, Yuliana, asserts, “He does not have a criminal record; he had never been arrested,” emphasizing that his tattoos led to his gang designation. Similarly, other families recount similar stories. Edwuar Hernandez Herrera, a 23-year-old migrant, has tattoos representing his loved ones, and his mother Yarelis defends him, stating, “These tattoos do not make him a criminal.”
US authorities offered minimal evidence linking the deportees to Tren de Aragua. A senior official from Immigration and Customs Enforcement acknowledged that many deportees had no criminal history, citing their brief stay in the country. However, a representative from the Department of Homeland Security pointed to tattoos as supporting evidence of gang affiliation for individuals like Jerce Reyes Barrios, a professional soccer player.
Reyes Barrios’s lawyer argues that the tattoo in question symbolizes his favorite soccer team and discusses the asylum he sought after being tortured for protesting against the Venezuelan government. Furthermore, Texas authorities published a report linking specific tattoos to Tren de Aragua, but experts argue that tattoos do not strictly denote gang allegiance in Venezuela as they do with El Salvador’s gangs.
Former President Donald Trump maintained that those deported were part of “a bad group,” and assured that a rigorous vetting process was in order. His administration would seek accountability for any misidentification. Venezuela’s government has since sought legal assistance in El Salvador to help secure the release of the migrants amidst the ongoing diaspora, with millions of Venezuelans fleeing the country in recent years due to economic and political unrest.
The classification of Venezuelan migrants as gang members has raised significant concerns among their families and legal representatives, who argue that tattoos are being misinterpreted as markers of criminality. The U.S. authorities face scrutiny for their lack of substantial evidence regarding gang affiliation, and as the situation develops, the need for thorough reviews of deportations has become increasingly apparent. The ongoing plight of Venezuelan migrants reflects deeper issues surrounding their quest for safety and stability.
Original Source: www.kten.com
