Tattoos, clothing of the Chicago Bulls and Jordan Sneakers: the US guide to “identify” members of the Aragua

USA He has deported more than a hundred Venezuelans to El Salvador after syndicating them to belong to the criminal band Aragua train. However, he has not shown evidence of this. And in Venezuela, relatives of some of these people have questioned the accusations and said they are innocent. How is Donald Trump’s government determining that a Venezuelan is a member of the dreaded band classified now as a terrorist? The answer is in a judicial document.

This document was released by the American union for civil liberties (ACLU)that sued the government for its deportations without due process, and reveals that The authorities are using a point system to decide which Venezuelans should be deported as members of the Aragua train.

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The document, called “Foreign Enemies Validation Guide”, Establishes that those Venezuelan immigrants who obtain 8 points or more on a scale of up to 81 They are “validated as members of the ADD (Aragua Train) ”and could be deported under the Foreign enemies law of 1798.

From its approval, That law had only applied three times: during the War of 1812, the first and Second World War.

In the Second World WarWhen fear of foreigners was extended throughout the United States, the law was used for the massive internment of people of German, Italian and, especially Japanese ancestry. It is estimated that 120,000 Japanese, including US citizens, were imprisoned during the war.

The guide begins with three boxes with questions that include If the person is over 14 yearsif it is not a permanent citizen or resident of the United States and if it is Venezuelan.

“If any of these three requirements are not met, the person appointed previously should not be removed under the Foreign enemies law“mentions the guide.

But the opposite happens, The person goes through an evaluation under six categories, each with a score.

If with the guide it is determined that the person is not a member of the Aragua trainbut he insists that he must be deported, then the officers of the Customs Immigration and Control Service (ICE) They are obliged to initiate expulsion under another federal norm: the immigration and nationality law, indicates the document.

These are the 6 points of the guide:

1. Symbols (14 points). Tattoos that are associated with the Aragua trainpublications in social networks about the band, graffiti marking territory of the criminal gang, manual signals or clothing with flagships of the Aragua train observed by the forces of the order, either in person or through virtual means. It has been pointed out that The authorities consider tattoos of affiliation to the train of Aragua. However, Venezuelan criminologists have indicated that these tattoos are generic and do not represent identifying symbols of said band in Venezuela. The National Security Department also associates the use of “high -end” urban clothing, as well as Chicago Bulls Basketball T -shirt, especially Michael Jordan with number 23and the sports shoes Jordan Jumpman, as part of the outfit used by the alleged members of the Aragua train.
2. Criminal history (15 points). Condemnations against the person for criminal activities that favored the objectives of the gang, as well as official documents referring to accusations or sentences that certify belonging to the Aragua train and detail specific actions linked to this organization. At this point, it should be noted that there is no cooperation of the Venezuelan government to share information on criminal records of suspects belonging to the Aragua train.
3. Self -admission (10 points). If the person verbally admits or in writing his association with the band, either voluntarily or involuntary (for example, through legal interceptions of communications).
4. Criminal behavior and information (15 points). Participate in criminal activities with members of the Aragua train, such as drug trafficking or people. In addition, be identified by agents or intelligence reports as a member of the band. Credible testimonies of victims or members of the community. Media reports on arrests or activities related to the gang.
5. Documents and communications. (25 points). The possession of written or electronic communications that contain information about the band’s operations, called with members of the Aragua Train, illicit financial transactions with them, among others.
6. Association (2 points). Relate closely or reside with people identified as members of the Aragua train, appear in photographs or joint publications on social networks.

The ACLU also shared a report with the analysis of the Aragua train made by the National Security Research Office (HSI). By citing a report from the INSIGHT Crime, it is ensured that since July 2023 he installed operations in Latin America. He says that more recently the presence of its members of the United States was identified.

They assure that they are present in California, Illinois, Florida, New York, Nevada and Texasand that are wrapped in crimes such as kidnappings, human and sexual traffic, documented robberies and frauds.

In addition, they show documents with photographs about tattoos allegedly related to the band. Include the logo of the shoes of Michael Jordan With the number 23, an AK rifle, trains, crowns, stars, watches and phrases such as “real to death”, referring to the football club Real Madrid.

Also the figure of Ismael Sánchez, a well -known Venezuelan offender who died years ago and now converted into “Santo Malandro”For Venezuelan criminal culture.

Originally from the Guardian neighborhood in Caracas, Sánchez died stabbed in a fight in the dangerous parish of January 23.

The Venezuelans indicated to belong to the Train of Aragu Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT)the world famous Megacárcel built by order of the president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele.

The federal judge James Boasberg He ordered the temporarily to stop deportations under the Law of Foreign Enemies because the Trump administration is not legally justifying the use of that standard.

The judge’s order Boasberg Then he was validated by other magistrates of an appeals court, Telemundo scored.

But the Government has continued to deport Venezuelans towards the prison of El Salvador, with the argument that they are gang members.