Deported for sports team tattoo? The lawyer for this Venezuelan man arrested by ICE thinks so

Deportations of undocumented immigrants have surged since Donald Trump took office on January 20, and among the cases making headlines is that of Jerce Reyes, a Venezuelan man recently deported from the United States to El Salvador over a tattoo related to Real Madrid.

According to his attorney, Linette Tobin, speaking to CNN, Reyes’s two greatest passions are football and his daughters, both of which are reflected in the tattoos on his body: a soccer ball with a crown, the names of his daughters, and other meaningful symbols. But those same tattoos ultimately cost him his freedom.

Venezuelan deported for Real Madrid tattoo

In September, Reyes was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and later deported. This month, he was sent to El Salvador under the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies.

Authorities claimed his tattoos indicated a link to the Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Reyes’s tattoos were “consistent with those showing affiliation with Tren de Aragua,” although they did not specify which tattoos were considered incriminating. In the past, law enforcement has flagged tattoos of crowns, stars, and the word “Dios” as possible gang markers.

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Reyes has a tattoo of a soccer ball with a crown – a tribute to his favorite team, Real Madrid. He also has the word “Dios” inked on his body, which he says is a reference to Argentine legend Diego Maradona, not a gang symbol.

His friend and tattoo artist, Víctor Mengual, explained that the tattoos were done in 2018, at a time when Tren de Araguawas not widely known, even in Venezuela. “There’s no way they’re gang-related,” he said. Reyes also has tattoos of a map of Venezuela, a star, and an image of a goalkeeper.

Entered the U.S. through CBP One

According to his lawyer, Reyes used the CBP One app – implemented during the Biden administration – to enter the U.S. legally. He arrived on September 1 with a scheduled immigration appointment, but was immediately detained and accused of gang ties based on his tattoos.

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