A professional soccer player has been sent to what is described as one of the ‘world’s worst prisons,’ due to his tattoo and social media activity.
Jerce Reyes Barrios, a soccer player and youth coach from Venezuela, was detained following his involvement in a protest against the Maduro regime earlier this year.
In September 2024, Barrios fled to the Mexican border, utilizing the CBP One app. This mobile application was primarily used during Biden’s presidency to improve border processing by allowing migrants to schedule appointments at entry ports.
Once in the United States, Barrios’ attorney, Linette Tobin, stated that the athlete was deported to El Salvador over a tattoo depicting a soccer logo.
Reports indicate that the Department of Homeland Security claims Barrios’ tattoo is gang-related. Additionally, a photograph allegedly shows him making gang gestures.
Tobin explained that the tattoo features a crown atop a soccer ball with the word ‘Dios,’ meaning God. ABC News revealed a declaration from the tattoo artist stating it resembles Real Madrid’s logo.
“In reality, he chose this tattoo because it is similar to the logo for his favorite soccer team, Real Madrid,” Tobin clarified.
Barrios reportedly has no criminal history, though he’s been accused of being affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang, also known as TdA.
Tobin stated that Barrios was scheduled for a hearing next month, but was deported to El Salvador on March 15.
“Counsel and family have lost all contact with him and have no information,” Tobin mentioned in court documentation.
Last weekend, Trump declared that the Tren de Aragua gang was infiltrating the US and invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport non-citizens.
Hundreds have now been transferred to El Salvador’s prison, the Terrorism Confinement Center. Despite a federal judge’s order halting the deportations, the flights had already departed when the ruling was issued.
A senior DHS official told UNILAD: “Jerce Reyes Barrios was not only in the United States illegally, but he has tattoos that are consistent with those indicating TdA gang membership.”
“His own social media indicates he is a member of the vicious TdA gang. That all said, DHS intelligence assessments go beyond a single tattoo and we are confident in our findings.”
CNN’s David Culver visited the prison and described the ‘spartan’ conditions that inmates endure.
Culver’s team reported that cells differ from American prisons, being ‘built to hold 80 inmates’ or more. Inmates are confined for 23.5 hours daily, far from the ‘luxuries’ found in American prisons.
Culver noted: “The only furniture is tiered metal bunks, with no sheets, pillows or mattresses … an open toilet, a cement basin and plastic bucket for washing and a large jug for drinking water.”
It is estimated the facility houses between 10,000 and 20,000 prisoners, with the 261 people deported by Trump’s administration believed to be the latest additions.