A man from Derbyshire found his tattoo mistakenly connected to a prominent Venezuelan gang in a US government document. Pete Belton, a 44-year-old from Ilkeston, was surprised to see his forearm featured in a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) file used to identify alleged members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), an international criminal organization. Belton expressed his astonishment, stating that he is just an ordinary middle-aged man from Derbyshire, with no ties to any gang.
Initially finding the situation a bit strange and amusing, Belton is now concerned about his upcoming family trip to Miami in August potentially turning into an extended stay at Guantanamo. The Trump administration has already deported numerous individuals allegedly linked to gangs to a high-security prison in El Salvador. Some deportees’ lawyers argue that their clients were erroneously identified as TdA members based on their tattoos, including Belton’s tattoo, which features a clock face marking his daughter’s birth date.
Despite Belton’s tattoo being displayed in a set of images for identifying TdA members, subsequent investigations revealed that several pictures from the document originally came from tattoo websites unrelated to Venezuela or TdA. A Nottingham-based tattoo artist’s Instagram post from nearly a decade ago showcased Belton’s tattoo image, highlighting the mismatch in the US government’s document. The concern remains for Belton, unsure of his unwitting association with the gang.
In response to inquiries about the source of the images, both the US DHS and the Texas Department of Public Safety remained silent, while the DHS emphasized the thoroughness of its intelligence assessments. Belton expressed worry about being mistakenly singled out by border enforcement officials due to the tattoo’s misinterpretation. While the US government has not sent anyone solely based on tattoos, they utilize a points system called the “Alien Enemy Validation Guide” to determine gang affiliations.
Venezuelan investigative journalist Ronna Risquez clarified that tattoos alone do not confirm someone’s gang membership, emphasizing the necessity of a proper police investigation to ascertain any criminal ties. Belton’s uncertainty regarding his family’s US trip lingers, contemplating the potential repercussions despite providing ample proof of his innocence and lack of affiliation with the Venezuelan gang in question
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