New Delhi:
US President Donald Trump recently shared a photo that he claimed depicted the tattooed knuckles of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was deported to El Salvador last month amid controversy. However, the authenticity of the image is now being questioned, with critics suggesting it may have been digitally altered.
The photo, shared on Trump’s social media accounts, was meant to serve as evidence that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang. Abrego Garcia, 29, was deported, but his legal team argues that the deportation was against US law.
Trump’s post included a black-and-white photo showing a man’s knuckles with the letters “MS-13” above four symbols. In the post, Trump criticized Democrats for defending Abrego Garcia, whom he claims is a violent gang member. However, the image has faced scrutiny for possible digital manipulation.
Several social media users have pointed out discrepancies in lighting, typography, and pixelation on the tattoo, suggesting that the image may have been doctored. Despite Trump’s claims, court documents filed by US government attorneys have not mentioned tattoos as evidence of Abrego Garcia’s gang membership.
Abrego Garcia arrived in the US as a teenager in 2011 to escape threats from gang members in El Salvador. He worked in construction and supported his family, including two children with autism. In 2019, he was detained by an anti-gang unit, but an immigration judge ruled in his favor, allowing him to stay in the US with a work permit. However, he was deported to El Salvador in March, despite the court order.
