Venezuelan Soccer Player Deported, Tattoo Misidentified as Gang Symbol

Jerce Reyes Barrios, a Venezuelan professional soccer player, was deported to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act, accused of gang affiliation due to a tattoo resembling the Real Madrid logo. His attorney, Linette Tobin, argues that the tattoo is a personal symbol, not related to gang activity, and claims Barrios was wrongfully detained without notice to his legal counsel or family. The Department of Homeland Security has cited this tattoo as evidence of his membership in the Tren de Aragua gang, despite Barrios having no criminal record and being a victim of political persecution in Venezuela. His deportation occurred before a scheduled immigration hearing, raising concerns over due process and constitutional rights amid broader tensions surrounding recent deportations. Tobin has submitted evidence of Barrios’s peaceful protest history and professional background, emphasizing the questionable basis for the accusations against him. The case highlights the potential misuse of immigration policies against asylum seekers based on superficial criteria.