Terry Cole, the nominee for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) by President Donald Trump, has made headlines during his confirmation hearing by acknowledging the gang-related tattoos of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
During the Senate Judiciary Committee session, imagery of Garcia's tattoos led to confirmation of their gang affiliations, the New York Post reported.
The hearing saw significant discussions centering on tattoos that were shown to belong to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, believed to be a member of the notorious MS-13 gang. Senator Lindsey Graham questioned Terry Cole specifically about visible tattoos marked "MS-13" on Garcia's knuckles.
Cole, poised to head the DEA, affirmed that these markings were consistent with gang affiliations.
President Trump has been vocal about the media's portrayal of Abrego Garcia. He criticized major news outlets like The New York Times and CBS News for their allegedly diminished portrayal of Garcia’s gang affiliations. Additionally, he disputed accusations that the White House had altered photographs to emphasize the tattoos.
In a response to these allegations, on April 18, President Trump showcased a photo on the social platform Truth Social, which displayed "MS-13" clearly tattooed on Garcia's knuckles. This release aimed to counter the claims regarding photo manipulation. Here's what President Trump remarked on ABC News:
This is the hand of the man that the Democrats feel should be brought back to the United States, because he is such ‘a fine and innocent person'. They said he is not a member of MS-13, even though he’s got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles, and two Highly Respected Courts found that he was a member of MS-13, beat up his wife, etc.
Authorities deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, defying a 2019 immigration judge's decision that barred his removal. The complexities of this case increased when the Supreme Court mandated the Trump administration to ensure Garcia’s return to the United States.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressed concerns that facilitating Garcia's return could necessitate deporting him to another country subsequently.
Currently, Garcia is detained in a lower-security El Salvadorian prison that also houses members of alleged foreign terrorist groups. This arrangement was part of an agreement with Trump’s State Department.
An undisclosed source from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) clarified that a "13" tattoo is crucial for confirming gang membership, particularly for MS-13, within numerous localities like Maryland.
This tattoo is among those that Terry Cole pointed out during his confirmation as suggesting a definite linkage with the violent gang, which he described as a “terrorist organization.” The endorsement of the tattoos' implication by Terry Moran from ABC News further compounded the discourse as it confirmed the potential link to gang involvement.
President Trump also took this opportunity to assert his stance against what he views as a sympathetic portrayal of known gang members.
The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and his controversial tattoos has ignited robust debates surrounding immigration, gang violence, and media responsibility. As Terry Cole awaits confirmation, the implications of his statements and the administration's handling of Garcia’s case continue to ripple through political and security dialogues. This saga encapsulates the challenges and complexities of law enforcement within the vast and often murky waters of international crime and U.S. immigration policy.
