35-year-old deportee Jerce Reyes, originally from Venezuela, is now at the center of a new legal tempest. Now he’s been moved to the prison designated El Salvador’s most infamous lockup. Reyes was one of the hundreds of Venezuelans recently deported. This move came after former US President Donald Trump’s invocation of an 18th-century law aimed at undocumented migrants. His name made it onto a list of deportees released by CBS News. This news highlights the nature of his deportation and the evidence relied upon to deport him.
Reyes’s family and lawyer continue to insist on Reyes’s innocence, claiming that he does not have a criminal record in Venezuela. He shared reams of documents to support his assertion. Now, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has flagged him for being affiliated with a foreign terrorist organization. Law enforcement officials think the body art tattoos on Reyes’s muscular frame reveal his association with the Tren de Aragua (TdA) criminal syndicate. These serious allegations rest almost entirely on this evidence. Reyes and his supporters say those tattoos have personal meaning outside of any gang involvement.
A Life Marked by Tattoos
Reyes’s tattoos may be the most controversial element of his ongoing legal battle. His left arm includes a soccer ball and other symbolic emblems. Given the translucent nature of the glass, it displays the names of his two daughters. Victor Mengual, Reyes’s friend and tattoo artist, tattooed these designs on Reyes’s skin. Mengual will tell you that he first got the soccer ball tattoo back in 2018. This I learned long before the TdA became infamous as a criminal syndicate operating out of Venezuela.
“He’s innocent, and it’s not only the family who says it, everyone who knows Jerce knows this is not true,” said Mariyin Araujo, 32, a close acquaintance of Reyes.
A senior DHS official stated:
“Jerce Reyes Barrios was not only in the United States illegally, but he has tattoos that are consistent with those indicating TdA gang membership.”
Reyes’s attorney, Linette Tobin, claims the soccer ball tattoo is what made him guilty in a sworn court affidavit. Tobin wants to make it clear that Reyes is innocent of any wrongdoing. He focuses on the verifiability of Reyes’s criminal record documents out of Venezuela—which CNN has independently verified.
A Family's Plea for Justice
Today, Reyes’s family remains as committed as ever to Reyes’s cause, fighting for Reyes’s character and innocence just like Reyes himself. More than anything, Reyes is a dedicated family man and father. He fled Venezuela in March due to the political instability in his home city of Machiques. They paint a portrait of a father who puts his daughters first and an intense commitment to the sport of soccer.
“Jerce doesn’t even drink, he doesn’t smoke, he’s never been involved in any crime or bad situation! The only things he cares about are his daughters and soccer,” said Mariyin Araujo.
Our client’s family’s request is further bolstered by substantive documentation establishing Reyes’s lack of a criminal record in Venezuela. The rupture caused by deportation proceedings and accusations from US authorities has placed them against the ropes in their efforts to clear his name.
Reyes’ next hearing before an immigration judge in San Diego is set for April 17. His lawyer hopes this hearing will provide an opportunity to present evidence of his innocence and challenge the allegations based on his tattoos.
The Broader Implications
In many ways Reyes’s case represents the larger implications of calling tattoos dangerous indicators of criminal affiliations. Even if some tattoos are gang identifiers, they very well might have deep personal or cultural meanings unrelated to criminal activity. For people like Reyes, these assumptions can have life-or-death consequences, including deportation and imprisonment.
Reyes’s story highlights the unique challenges that undocumented migrants face in the United States. Others look for shelter from the storm of political discord or economic despair. Circumstantial evidence or misinterpretations can land them in legal trouble. The invocation of an 18th-century law by former President Trump set a precedent for increased scrutiny and deportations, impacting countless lives like Reyes's.
As this case makes its way through the legal system, Reyes’s attorney is focused on the battle ahead and bringing justice to her client. The next hearing, taking place in San Diego, will be key in determining Reyes’s fate. It will most importantly center around the allegations against him.
