The United States deported 238 Venezuelan men on three flights to El Salvador on March 15, 2025, claiming that they were members of the Tren de Aragua gang that originated in Venezuela.

The tattoos set off no alarm bells in a suburban U.S. gym, but “worn by someone of that nationality it becomes a sign of criminality, danger and gang affiliation,” she said.

Relatives of some Venezuelan deportees believe the men were targeted as Tren de Aragua members based on their tattoos, but a gang expert said this isn’t a reliable identifier.

For example, tattoos of “503” and “504” – the country codes used to dial El Salvador and Honduras, respectively – have been relied upon to allege gang membership, even as many people ...

Tattoos are also prominent among many young Venezuelan men, they said, particularly those from poorer neighborhoods where hip-hop and basketball are a strong part of the culture and aesthetic.

Defense lawyers say some of the roughly 200 Venezuelan men the U.S. deported after accusing them of being gang members were targeted because of their everyday tattoos.

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Beth C. Caldwell, Southwestern Law School (THE CONVERSATION) The United States ...

The tattoos set off no alarm bells in a suburban U.S. gym, but “worn by someone of that nationality it becomes a sign of criminality, danger and gang affiliation,” she said.

Defense lawyers say some of the roughly 200 Venezuelan men the U.S. deported after accusing them of being gang members were targeted because of their everyday tattoos.