The Trump administration asserts that Kilmar Abrego Garcia's finger tattoos—a cross, skull, smiley face, and marijuana leaf—indicate MS-13 membership. However, gang experts strongly disagree, stating the symbols are not definitive proof of gang affiliation. They highlight the ambiguity of the tattoos and point out that MS-13 typically uses highly visible and unambiguous tattoos to display membership.
A White House social media post featured a digitally altered image of Abrego Garcia's tattoos, adding letters and numbers to create “MS-13.” President Trump, in an interview, seemed unaware or unconcerned about the image alteration.
Multiple gang experts, including professors Jorja Leap (UCLA), Thomas Ward (USC), and Susan Phillips (Pitzer College), refute the administration's claims. They emphasize that authentic MS-13 tattoos are bold and unambiguous declarations of membership, not subtle or cryptic symbols. They argue that additional contextual information is crucial before concluding gang affiliation.
Experts highlight Abrego Garcia's lack of criminal record in the US, his employment as a day laborer, and his role as a father as factors that contradict the assertion of active gang membership.
The experts conclude that the image of President Trump holding the altered photo is more impactful than the tattoos' actual meaning. They advocate for a proper legal assessment of the case in a US court of law.