Soccer Team Tribute Tattoo Triggered Deportation of Venezuelan Athlete Accused of Gang Ties

Jerce Reyes Barrios, a 36-year-old Venezuelan former professional soccer player, was among those deported to El Salvador on March 15, 2025, by the Trump administration.

Reyes Barrios, who had legally entered the United States in 2024, was accused by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of being affiliated with the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang, based on a tattoo he had of a crown, a soccer ball, a rosary, and the word "Dios" (God).

The tattoo, however, was an homage to Real Madrid soccer team and has no gang affiliation, as ABC News explains based on quotes from the tattoo artist. Despite this explanation, ICE considered the tattoo evidence of gang ties, which led to his detention in September 2024.

ICE also pointed to a photo from Reyes Barrios' social media, where he appeared to make a hand gesture, commonly used in rock and roll culture to signify "I love you," as his lawyer, Linette Tobin explained. Authorities, however, interpreted this as another sign of gang membership.

Reyes Barrios did not have any criminal record in Venezuela, according to government records reviewed by ABC News. His only prior legal encounter was his participation in anti-regime protests against the country's authoritarian government, which led to his detention and alleged torture in 2023. After receiving asylum in the U.S., Reyes Barrios was in the process of applying for permanent residency when his deportation occurred.

Family members and advocates are concerned about his safety in El Salvador, particularly as he has been sent to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a notorious maximum-security prison criticized for its human rights abuses. "He works with children, coaching soccer and teaching techniques," said his relative, Ayari del Carmen Pedroza Guerrero. "A lot of children admire him because he's a goalie."

The U.S. government has deported over 200 Venezuelans to El Salvador recently, accusing them of being part of criminal gangs, though many lack criminal records. Tom Homan, former Acting Director of ICE, defended the deportations, claiming that the lack of specific information on the individuals heightened their potential threat.