Venezuelan Raw Deal: Tattoo Misinterpretation Leads to Deportation
San Salvador – A case involving Venezuelan hairdresser Andry Hernández has highlighted a controversial U.S. immigration policy that relies on dubious interpretations of tattoos. Hernández, who sought asylum in the United States due to persecution related to his sexual orientation and political beliefs, found himself forcibly deported back to El Salvador amid allegations of gang involvement.
In a twist of fate, Hernández had adorned his wrists with tattoos of crowns—the emblem of the Catholic Three Kings Day festivities celebrated in his hometown of Capacho Nuevo. Such personal symbols of family pride, however, became the basis for his classification as a suspected member of the Tren de Aragua gang, a designation made by U.S. immigration officials.
Journey to the U.S. and Subsequent Detention
Hernández, 31, embarked on his migration journey in May 2024, traversing the challenging Darién jungle from Colombia to Mexico. Upon reaching the U.S., he submitted an asylum application at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on August 29, claiming fears of persecution.
After being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), his tattoos were flagged as indicators of potential gang affiliation by an official from CoreCivic, a private company providing immigration detention services. According to internal documents, his tattoos scored five points on a “gang identification” scale, which ultimately categorized him as a security risk.
| Criteria | Points Assigned |
|---|---|
| Tattoos indicating gang membership | 5 |
| Criminal convictions | 10+ |
| Social media activity | 2-4 |
Contentious Deportation
On March 15, 2025, amid a crackdown on suspected gang members prompted by President Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, Hernández was deported along with a group of 238 others to the notorious “mega-prison” in El Salvador known as the Terrorist Confinement Centre.
Hernández had been hoping to attend a court hearing regarding his asylum case but was denied access. His family lost contact, not knowing his whereabouts until a photo of him surfaced from the Salvadoran prison.
The Impact of Misidentified Symbols
Friends and family describe Hernández as a vibrant individual involved in the local Three Kings festival, where he honed his talents as a costumer and makeup artist. The festival, significant to his cultural heritage, features crowns as a core symbol, making the tattoos a form of personal expression rather than gang affiliation.
“Those crowns represented his life and culture, which has now become a crime in the eyes of the authorities,” said Miguel Chacón, President of the Capacho Three Kings Foundation. The local community has rallied for his release, wearing crowns during vigils to signify their support.
In response to the situation, California Governor Gavin Newsom and several congressional representatives have requested proof of life for Hernández and others similarly detained, questioning the legitimacy of the processes that led to his deportation.
As Hernández’s story unfolds, it raises serious questions about how the U.S. immigration system evaluates individuals based on potentially misinterpreted symbols, emphasizing the pressing need for reforms that protect vulnerable populations from undue suffering.
