President Trump shared a photo of a hand with tattoos, claiming it belonged to Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a deported man, as evidence of MS-13 gang affiliation.
Gang experts dispute the claim, stating that the tattoos are not known MS-13 symbols and that the photo may be altered.
The photo shows generic symbols like a marijuana leaf, a smiley face, a cross, and a skull, with “MS-13” added above the tattoos.
Abrego Garcia was deported despite a protection order; the Trump administration cited MS-13 affiliation, which his lawyers deny.
Court filings indicate conflicting information about his gang affiliation; an informant claimed he was in the gang but two judges later stated the government failed to provide proof.
Despite accusations from the Trump administration, Abrego Garcia’s lawyers have repeatedly denied that his tattoos signify MS-13 affiliation.
The Supreme Court ruled that the government should facilitate Abrego Garcia's release from El Salvadoran custody.
Gang experts consulted by PolitiFact indicated that the tattoos shown in the photo were not known MS-13 symbols.
They emphasized that such commonplace tattoos alone are insufficient evidence of gang affiliation.
The experts highlighted that many tattoos have common mainstream meanings, not exclusive to gangs.
They stated that definitive evidence of gang affiliation usually requires additional supporting information beyond just tattoos.