Stars, crowns, roses and watch tattoos can land you in prison if you are a Venezuelan man in the United States.
U.S. immigration agents have been flagging Venezuelans, especially men, for suspected ties to the feared Tren de Aragua gang based on tattoos, including animals, basketball symbols and reggaeton lyrics.
kAm%96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? :?G@<65 2 aaf\J62C @=5 H2CE:>6 =2H =2DE >@?E9 E@ E2C86E '6?6KF6=2?D[ D6?5:?8 9F?5C65D @7 2==6865 >6>36CD @7 E96 82?8 E@ 2 >682 AC:D@? :? t= $2=G25@C] u656C2= 4@FCE C64@C5D D9@H :>>:8C2E:@? 286?ED 2C6 FD:?8 2 “G2=:52E:@? 8F:56” E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>:2>:96C2=5]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^:>>:8C2E:@?^2CE:4=6b_b`e___e]9E>=n>C79F5lECF6Qm564:56 H96E96C '6?6KF6=2?D >2J 36 DFDA64E65k^2m 82?8 >6>36CD] %96 8F:56 :?4=F56D “DJ>3@=:D>” 2>@?8 E96 E9:?8D E@ 4@?D:56C[ :?4=F5:?8 92?5 D:8?D[ 4=@E9:?8[ D@4:2= >65:2 A@DED — 2?5 E2EE@@D]k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 E2EE@@D 2C6 36:?8 FD65 2D :?5:42E@CD @7 82?8 >6>36CD9:A 6G6? H96? E96C6 :D ?@ @E96C 6G:56?46 E92E 2 A6CD@? 92D 2 4C:>:?2= A2DE[ 6IA6CED @? %C6? 56 pC28F2[ H9:49 H2D 3@C? :? 2 ?@E@C:@FD '6?6KF6=2? AC:D@?[ D2J E92E’D ;FDE ?@E E96 H2J E9:D A2CE:4F=2C 82?8 @A6C2E6D — 2?5 E92E AC@7:=:?8 A6@A=6 FD:?8 E2EE@@D :D =:<6=J E@ =625 E@ >:D42CC:286D @7 ;FDE:46]k^Am
kAm$@4:@=@8:DE #@36CE@ qC:46ñ@ {6ó?[ H9@ 92D 366? DEF5J:?8 G:@=6?46 :? '6?6KF6=2 7@C b_ J62CD[ D2JD E96 &]$] :D >:D:?E6CAC6E:?8 E96 492C24E6C:DE:4D @7 >6>36CD @7 %C6? 56 pC28F2[ @C %5p] (9:=6 82?8D DF49 2D t= $2=G25@C’D :?72>@FD |$\`b 2?5 r@>2?5@ '6C>6=9@ :? qC2K:= 2C6 <?@H? E@ 4@>A6= E96:C >6>36CD E@ E2EE@@ E96>D6=G6D 2D 2 D:8? @7 2==68:2?46 @C AC:56[ E96 AC24E:46 :D ?@E 4@>>@? 2>@?8 %C6? 56 pC28F2 >6>36CD]k^Am
kAm“'6?6KF6=2? 82?8D 5@?’E :56?E:7J E96>D6=G6D H:E9 E2EE@@D[” 96 E@=5 E96 |:2>: w6C2=5] v2?8 >6>36CD’ :56?E:E:6D[ 96 D2:5[ “2C6 C@@E65 :? @E96C 6=6>6?EDi E96 2C62 H96C6 E96J =:G6[ E96 ?6:893@C9@@5 H96C6 E96J 42>6 7C@>[ 2?5 E96 7:8FC6 @7 2 =6256C]”k^Am
kAmx? $@FE9 p>6C:42[ H96C6 %C6? 56 pC28F2 92D 925 2 J62CD\=@?8 AC6D6?46[ 6DA64:2==J :? r9:=6[ !6CF[ r@=@>3:2 2?5 qC2K:=[ =@42= A@=:46 92G6 ?6G6C 4@?D:DE6?E=J =:?<65 E2EE@@D E@ E96 82?8[ D2:5 #@??2 #íDBF6K[ 2 ;@FC?2=:DE H9@ 92D EC24<65 E96 82?8’D 24E:G:E:6D 7@C J62CD]k^Am
kAm“w2G:?8 DA64:7:4 E2EE@@D :D?’E >2?52E@CJ E@ 36 2 >6>36C @7 %5p[” #íDBF6K D2:5[ ?@C 2 “56E6C>:?:?8 724E@C” :? H96E96C D@>6@?6 36=@?8D E@ E96 82?8]k^Am
kAm#íDBF6K[ 2FE9@C @7 2 3@@< @? %C6? 56 pC28F2[ {2 32?52 BF6 C6G@=F4:@?ó 6= 4C:>6? @C82?:K25@ 6? p>éC:42 {2E:?2 — %96 82?8 E92E C6G@=FE:@?:K65 @C82?:K65 4C:>6 :? {2E:? p>6C:42 — 2C8F6D E92E E96 &]$] EC62E>6?E @7 '6?6KF6=2?D H:E9 E2EE@@D C67=64ED 2 32D:4 >:D4@?46AE:@?i %@ E96 2FE9@C:E:6D 2== {2E:? p>6C:42?D — 2?5 2== {2E:? p>6C:42? 82?8D — 2C6 E96 D2>6i “x7 6G6CJ {2E:?@ :D |6I:42?[ 6G6CJ {2E:? p>6C:42? 82?8 :D =:<6 |$\`b]”k^Am
kAm#íDBF6K D2:5 E92E H9:=6 :E :D ECF6 E92E D@>6 >6? H9@ D6CG65 E:>6 :? E96 %@4@Có? AC:D@? :? E96 '6?6KF6=2? DE2E6 @7 pC28F2 — H96C6 E96 82?8 @C:8:?2E65 >@C6 E92? 2 564256 28@ 367@C6 :ED 4=@DFC6 :? a_ab — 925 DE2C E2EE@@D @? E96:C D9@F=56CD[ D96 D2:5 E96J 5@?’E ?646DD2C:=J :?5:42E6 >6>36CD9:A :? %5p]k^Am
kAmrC:>:?2=:K2E:@? @7 '6?6KF6=2?Dk^Am
kAmsFC:?8 9:D AC6D:56?E:2= 42>A2:8?[ %CF>A C676CC65 E@ E96 %5p 82?8 2D “D2G286[” D2J:?8[ “%96 &?:E65 $E2E6D :D ?@H 2? @44FA:65 4@F?ECJ[ 3FE @? 52J @?6[ x H:== =2F?49 E96 =2C86DE 56A@CE2E:@? AC@8C2> :? p>6C:42? 9:DE@CJ E@ 86E E96D6 4C:>:?2=D @FE] x H:== C6D4F6 6G6CJ 4:EJ ]]] 2?5 H6 H:== AFE E96D6 G:4:@FD 2?5 3=@@5E9:CDEJ 4C:>:?2=D :? ;2:=] (6’C6 8@:?8 E@ <:4< E96> E96 96== @FE @7 @FC 4@F?ECJ 2D 72DE 2D A@DD:3=6]”k^Am
kAm(96? %CF>A 42>6 :?E@ @77:46[ E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 4=2DD:7:65 %C6? 56 pC28F2 2D 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H9:E69@FD6]8@G^AC6D:56?E:2=\24E:@?D^a_ad^_b^:>A@D:?8\E2C:77D\@?\4@F?EC:6D\:>A@CE:?8\G6?6KF6=2?\@:=^RiOiE6IElW2XTa_%96Ta_%C6?Ta_56Ta_pC28F2[E96Ta_2DD2DD:?2E:@?Ta_@7Ta_2Ta_'6?6KF6=2?Qmu@C6:8? %6CC@C:DE ~C82?:K2E:@?k^2m] xE =2E6C :?G@<65 E96 p=:6? t?6>:6D p4E[ 2 `fhg =2H =2DE FD65 5FC:?8 (@C=5 (2C xx[ 42==:?8 E96 AC6D6?46 @7 E96 82?8 :? E96 &]$] 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^H9:E69@FD6]8@G^AC6D:56?E:2=\24E:@?D^a_ad^_b^:?G@42E:@?\@7\E96\2=:6?\6?6>:6D\24E\C682C5:?8\E96\:?G2D:@?\@7\E96\F?:E65\DE2E6D\3J\EC6?\56\2C28F2^Qm“:?G2D:@?”k^2m 56=:36C2E6=J D6?E E@ E96 &]$] 3J '6?6KF6=2’D D@4:2=:DE 8@G6C?>6?E]k^Am
kAmw@>6=2?5 $64FC:EJ $64C6E2CJ zC:DE: }@6> 92D AF3=:4=J C676CC65 E@ D@>6 '6?6KF6=2?D 2D “5:CE328D” 2?5 “E96 H@CDE @7 E96 H@CDE[” 2?5 >@G65 E@ 6?5 56A@CE2E:@? AC@E64E:@?D <?@H? 2D %6>A@C2CJ !C@E64E65 $E2EFD 7@C 9F?5C65D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 '6?6KF6=2?D[ 2 >@G6 ?@H 724:?8 =682= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>:2>:96C2=5]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^:>>:8C2E:@?^2CE:4=6b_b`hgdge]9E>=Qm492==6?86D :? 7656C2= 4@FCE]k^2mk^Am
kAmqC:46ñ@ {6ó? D2:5 E96 &]$] :D @G6C6DE:>2E:?8 E96 24EF2= E9C62E A@D65 3J %5p[ 255:?8 E92E |6I:42? 5CF8 42CE6=D “92G6 2 72C 8C62E6C =6G6= @7 :?E6?D:EJ 2?5 A@H6C]”k^Am
kAm%96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 92D FD65 E96 p=:6? t?6>:6D p4E E@ ;FDE:7J E96 56A@CE2E:@? @7 9F?5C65D @7 '6?6KF6=2?D E@ E96 t= $2=G25@C AC:D@? H:E9@FE 5F6 AC@46DD @C 2?J @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ D9@H E96J 2C6 ?@E 82?8 >6>36CD] ~? |@?52J E96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE 2==@H65 E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? E@ 4@?E:?F6 56A@CE:?8 '6?6KF6=2?D F?56C E96 p4E 7@C E96 E:>6 36:?8[ 3FE CF=65 E92E 2?J@?6 724:?8 56A@CE2E:@? F?56C E92E =2H >FDE 36 8:G6? E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 492==6?86 :E :? 7656C2= 4@FCE] w@H6G6C[ @? (65?6D52J[ 2 7656C2= ;F586 3=@4<65 2== 56A@CE2E:@?D 7C@> E96 $@FE96C? s:DEC:4E @7 %6I2D F?56C E96 p4E]k^Am
kAm%2C86E:?8 '6?6KF6=2?D H:E9 E2EE@@D 2D >6>36CD @7 %C6? 56 pC28F2 3682? 2E =62DE :? a_ab[ F?56C E96 q:56? 25>:?:DEC2E:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 4@FCE C64@C5D[ H96? :>>:8C2E:@? 286?4:6D 2DDF>65 E92E E96 '6?6KF6=2? 82?8 H2D :56?E:7J:?8 :ED6=7 E9C@F89 E2EE@@D[ 56DA:E6 E96 =24< @7 6G:56?46 E@ DFAA@CE E96 ?@E:@?]k^Am
kAm#íDBF6K[ H9@ :D 4FCC6?E=J :?G6DE:82E:?8 E96 AC6D6?46 @7 %C6? 56 pC28F2 :? E96 &]$][ D2:5 E92E (2D9:?8E@? ?665D E@ >@5:7J :ED 2AAC@249 E@ :56?E:7J:?8 A@E6?E:2= %5p >6>36CD 2?5 E92E[ :?DE625 @7 7@4FD:?8 @? E2EE@@D[ :>>:8C2E:@? 2FE9@C:E:6D D9@F=5 7@4FD @? 4C:>:?2= 24E:G:E:6D 2?5 E24E:4D] qJ F?56CDE2?5:?8 %5p’D @A6C2E:@?D[ ?6EH@C< 2?5 8=@32= C6249[ 2FE9@C:E:6D H@F=5 82:? >@C6 244FC2E6 :?D:89ED :?E@ E96 ECF6 ?2EFC6 @7 E96 E9C62E[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“%96 C62= 52?86C =:6D :? H92E’D 92AA6?:?8 C:89E ?@H — E96 4C:>:?2=:K2E:@? @7 '6?6KF6=2? >:8C2E:@?] %96 :DDF6 @7 E96 %C6? 56 pC28F2 82?8 :D 36:?8 6IA=@:E65 E@ ;FDE:7J 6IEC6>6 >62DFC6D[” D96 D2:5] “ x 7:?5 E9:D 566A=J EC@F3=:?8 3642FD6 :E 5@6D?’E ;FDE 27764E E96 4C:>:?2= 8C@FA — :E :>A24ED 2== '6?6KF6=2?D]”k^Am
kAm%2EE@@D 2?5 AC6;F5:46k^Am
kAmtIA6CED D2J :56?E:7J:?8 A6@A=6 2D %5p 82?8 >6>36CD ;FDE 3642FD6 @7 E2EE@@D F?72:C=J E2C86ED E96 '6?6KF6=2? :>>:8C2?E 4@>>F?:EJ — H92E qC:46ñ@ {6ó? 42==D “E96 4C:>6 @7 E2EE@@:?8]”k^Am
kAmp? 6IA6CE @? @C82?:K65 4C:>6 :? r@=@>3:2[ qC2K:=[ t= $2=G25@C 2?5 '6?6KF6=2[ qC:46ñ@ {6ó? D2:5 E92E H9:=6 E2EE@@D H6C6 @?46 4@>>@? DJ>3@=D @7 C636==:@? @C 4C:>:?2=:EJ — @C 82?8 >6>36CD9:A — E96J 92G6 6G@=G65 H@C=5H:56 :?E@ 6IAC6DD:@?D @7 A6CD@?2= :56?E:EJ[ >6>@C:6D[ 2?5 D:>A=J :?E6C6DE:?8 3@5J 2CE]k^Am
kAmqFE 7@C D@>6 '6?6KF6=2?D[ E96 E2EE@@D 92G6 =65 E@ E96:C 56A@CE2E:@? 7C@> E96 &]$] 2?5 5:D2AA62C2?46 :?E@ 2 >2I:>F> D64FC:EJ >682 AC:D@? :? t= $2=G25@C[ <?@H? 2D rtr~%[ E92E 92D 366? 7C6BF6?E=J 244FD65 @7 9F>2?\C:89ED G:@=2E:@?D]k^Am
kAmu2>:=:6D 92G6 E@=5 E96 |:2>: w6C2=5 E92E E96:C =@G65 @?6D D6?E E@ E96 AC:D@? H6C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>:2>:96C2=5]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^:>>:8C2E:@?^2CE:4=6b_aad`bbh]9E>=QmF?72:C=J 7=28865k^2m 3J &]$] :>>:8C2E:@? @77:4:2=D 2D %5p 82?8 >6>36CD 32D65 @? E2EE@@D] p>@?8 E9@D6 56A@CE65 E@ t= $2=G25@C — H:E9@FE 2?J 6G:56?46 @7 2 4C:>:?2= 324<8C@F?5 — H2D 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>:2>:96C2=5]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^:>>:8C2E:@?^2CE:4=6b_acec`bc]9E>=Qm>2? H9@ 925 366? 8C2?E65 C67F866 DE2EFDk^2m 27E6C 2 `f\>@?E9 324<8C@F?5 4964<j k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>:2>:96C2=5]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^:>>:8C2E:@?^2CE:4=6b_aef`eac]9E>=Qm2 '6?6KF6=2? 2DJ=F> D66<6Ck^2mj 2 AC@76DD:@?2= D@446C A=2J6C H9@ H2D @?46 E@CEFC65 3J E96 '6?6KF6=2? C68:>6 7@C A2CE:4:A2E:?8 :? AC@E6DED[ 2?5 2 >2<6FA 2CE:DE]k^Am
kAm%96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 92D 25>:EE65 :? 7656C2= 4@FCE E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>:2>:96C2=5]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^:>>:8C2E:@?^2CE:4=6b_aahhdbc]9E>=Qm“>2?J” @7 E96 '6?6KF6=2?Dk^2m :E 56A@CE65 F?56C E96 AC6D:56?E:2= H2CE:>6 A@H6CD 925 ?@ 4C:>:?2= C64@C5D :? E96 &]$] 2?5 E92E E96J H6C6 7=28865 2?5 56A@CE65 32D65 @? E96:C E2EE@@D 2?5 ?@ @E96C 6G:56?46 @7 82?8 >6>36CD9:A]k^Am
kAmtG6? :? $@FE9 u=@C:52[ 9@>6 E@ >@C6 E92? 2 BF2CE6C @7 E96 h__[___ '6?6KF6=2?D :? E96 &]$][ #6AF3=:42? A@=:E:4:2?D 92G6 DAC625 >:D=625:?8 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE E96 4@>>F?:EJ] &]$] #6A] |2Cí2 t=G:C2 $2=2K2C @7 |:2>: 4=2:>65 E92E E96 '6?6KF6=2? 8@G6C?>6?E :?E6?E:@?2==J D6?E 4C:>:?2=D 2?5 >6?E2==J F?DE23=6 :?5:G:5F2=D E@ E96 &]$] — 3FE AC@G:565 ?@ 6G:56?46] tIA6CED D2J AC@>@E:?8 DF49 DE6C6@EJA6D :D 92C>7F=[ 6DA64:2==J 23@FE 2 9:89=J 65F42E65 4@>>F?:EJ] p=>@DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A6HC6D62C49]@C8^C246\2?5\6E9?:4:EJ^724E\D966E^FD\9:DA2?:4D\724ED\@?\G6?6KF6=2?\@C:8:?\=2E:?@D^RiOiE6IEla_TadTa_@7Ta_&]$]Ta_w:DA2?:4DTa_286D[dgTadTa_@7Ta_E96Ta_7@C6:8?Ta_3@C?]Qme_T @7 '6?6KF6=2?D :? E96 &]$] 9@=5 2 4@==686 568C66k^2m[ 2 D:8?:7:42?E=J 9:896C AC@A@CE:@? E92? E96 2G6C286 7@C E96 w:DA2?:4 A@AF=2E:@? :? E96 4@F?ECJ]k^Am
kAm'6?6KF6=2’D 64@?@>:4 492@D 2?5 A@=:E:42= C6AC6DD:@? 92G6 7@C465 ?62C=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C6A@CE:?8]F?94C]@C8^@A6C2E:@?2=^D:EF2E:@?D^G6?6KF6=2\D:EF2E:@?RiOiE6IElx?Ta_a_adTarTa_&}wr#Ta_C6BF:C6DTa_2[E96Ta_6>6C86?4JTa_D:EF2E:@?Ta_:?Ta_'6?6KF6=2]U2>AjE6IEl%96Ta_A6C46?E286Ta_7F?565Ta_W`aTadX[ggTadTa_@7Ta_E96Ta_7:?2?4:2=Ta_C6BF:C6>6?ED]Qmg >:==:@? '6?6KF6=2?Dk^2m[ 46CE2:?=J :?4=F5:?8 D@>6 4C:>:?2=D[ E@ 7=66 E96:C 4@F?ECJ =@@<:?8 7@C 2 36EE6C =:76] %2C86E:?8 E96> 2D 82?8 >6>36CD D:>A=:DE:42==J — 2?5 >:DE2<6?=J — 32D65 @? E2EE@@D[ qC:46ñ@ {6ó? D2:5[ F?56C>:?6D C62= A@=:46 H@C< — 2?5 7F6=D AC6;F5:46]k^Am
kAm“!6@A=6 2C6 AF?:D965[ A6CD64FE65 @C E2C86E65 7@C E96 ‘4C:>6’ @7 E96:C 2AA62C2?46[ 7@C H92E E96J D66> E@ 36[ :?DE625 @7 H92E E96J’G6 24EF2==J 5@?6[” 96 D2:5] “%96 ECFE9 86ED =@DE :? E96 AC@46DD]”k^Am
kAm©a_ad |:2>: w6C2=5] ':D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>:2>:96C2=5]4@>^Qm>:2>:96C2=5]4@>k^2m] s:DEC:3FE65 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EC:3F?64@?E6?E286?4J]4@>Qm%C:3F?6 r@?E6?E p86?4J[ {{r]k^2mk^Am
k9C ^m
kAm©a_ad |:2>: w6C2=5] ':D:E 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>:2>:96C2=5]4@>^Qm>:2>:96C2=5]4@>k^2m] s:DEC:3FE65 3J %C:3F?6 r@?E6?E p86?4J[ {{r]k^Am
