Abrego Garcia has been deported to El Salvador fairly recently. Now, he is in the middle of a firestorm national debate around immigration policy, gang affiliation, and what each of his tattoos mean. The state of affairs quickly grabbed the attention of advocates and community members across the country. Social media platforms have exploded with speculation over his supposed ties to the infamous MS-13 gang.
MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, is one of the most widely recognized international gangs. It carries out harrowing practices across Central America and the United States. Members often display tattoos that represent their allegiance and express their beliefs. One of the most well-known phrases of all of them is “ver, oir y caliar,” which means “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” More than simply inked illustrations, these tattoos become valuable, conspicuous symbols of loyalty and membership within the gang.
In particular, Abrego Garcia’s tattoos – including the letters “MS” and the number “13” tattooed on his knuckles – have caused quite a stir. Users across social media have cited these markings as proof of his supposed gang affiliation. One of these users commented, “This looks like the most damning evidence so far! As one commenter observed, “It does appear that it is a 1 and a 3 for sure on his fingers.”
In reality, despite these allegations, Abrego Garcia has never been charged with or convicted of any crime. In 2019, along with a protective order from the UN, he was granted asylum in the United States. He was a member of MS-13. Nonetheless, as it turned out, he actually was a member of MS-13, which complicated his legal position even more.
The White House has pushed heavily for Abrego Garcia to stay in El Salvador. His deportation stems from an administrative error, despite the U.S. Supreme Court ordering the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the United States. This week, President Trump personally intervened to stop attempts to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. He explained, “This is the hand of the man that the Democrats decide should be brought back to the United States, because he is such ‘a good and innocent person.’”
The plot thickens, as they say. Documents made public by the U.S. Attorney General claim that Abrego Garcia had a direct, active role in MS-13 activities. Yet still, Abrego Garcia’s legal team has strongly disputed these allegations. One ICE source called out the real-world difficulties in determining whether or not someone is affiliated with a gang. As they shared, “The most powerful insights all came from informants or members from within CECOT—once you were in, you couldn’t refute your ties.
Truth be told, the unusual circumstance has drawn mixed reactions from a wide range of experts and officials. One ICE official noted the cultural indicators associated with gang affiliation. They argued that “officers can identify this type of clothing as a signature of Hispanic gang culture.”
It is Abrego Garcia’s case that has ignited a more colorful public discourse. It sheds light on the complicated themes between immigration policy and gang violence in El Salvador and the US. Civil society critics have argued that deporting individuals with tenuous connections to gangs will only exacerbate violence in their countries of origin. Proponents of hardline immigration enforcement advocate deportation for anyone associated with criminal enterprises.
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