Immigration guidelines and laws change often, so it’s often difficult for the general public to know exactly what’s going on. It may surprise some individuals to know that things as simple as culturally significant tattoos, posts on social media or the songs a person listens to are being used as justifying factors for immigration agents to flag people as dangers to this country.
In documents that have been made public recently, it’s come to light that the Alien Enemy Validation Guide is being used against Venezuelans who are older than 14 years old and are not permanent residents or United States citizens.
Tattoos and online expression as red flags
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have relied largely on databases of gang information and algorithms to identify those who should be deemed as threats to public safety. In some cases, tattoos that aren’t violent and those that are culturally significant have been wrongfully tagged as indicators of gang affiliation. Additionally, ICE officials have been adding in common phrases and photos on social media as evidence for deportation.
The issue with using tattoos, social media posts and other unregulated factors is that they aren’t reliable. This leaves the ICE agents with the freedom to use their own methods to determine what to consider a threat.
Anyone who’s facing deportation proceedings should ensure they understand their options and rights. It may be beneficial for them to work with someone who’s familiar with the current immigration laws, policies and regulations.