Gay Makeup Artist Deported After ICE Claimed His 'Mom' Tattoo Was 'Consistent' With Gang Activity: Court Docs

A gay makeup artist was deported to El Salvador after U.S. immigrations officials claimed his "mom" and "dad" tattoos were "consistent" with gang activity, according to an unclassified document filed over the weekend.

Andry, whose full name has been withheld for his safety, sought asylum in the United States from Venezuela over persecution for being gay and for opposing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Attorneys claim he was wrongly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a port of entry in 2024, and the questionnaire filed during his arrest was revealed as part of the American Civil Liberties Union's (ACLU) court order to stop the Trump administration from deporting migrants under the Alien Enemies Act, per ABC News.

The unclassified document, shared in an X post on Sunday, revealed Andry repeatedly denied any connection to the Tren de Aragua gang when he was questioned. Ultimately, ICE agents detained the 31-year-old man, who has no criminal record, because they believed the two crown tattoos with "mom" and "dad" on his wrists proved he was connected to the Tren de Aragua gang since its members reportedly use crown symbols.

The document concluded the crown tattoos were "the only basis of the government's assertion" that Andry is connected to the violent gang.

Andry was one of nearly 300 Venezuelan immigrants deported to El Salvador's Center for Terrorism Confinement on March 16. Lindsay Toczylowski, founder of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center and Andry's representative, said she has not been in contact with her client since he was transferred to the prison, according to Forbes.

The ACLU is one of several legal advocacy groups and major law firms challenging President Donald Trump and his administration for invoking the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants without due process. The case is likely reach the Supreme Court, according to PBS.