Fact Check: Is photo of tattooed hand Trump shared linking Kilmar Abrego Garcia to MS-13 gang edited?

WASHINGTON, DC: A recent social media post by President Donald Trump has stirred controversy as people online are questioning the authenticity of an image he recently shared. 

The photo, which appears to show Kilmar Abrego Garcia's tattooed hand, is being used to claim his affiliation with the violent Salvadoran MS-13 gang. 

While Trump's post quickly gained traction, doubts about its accuracy continue to circulate. Here's a closer look at the viral image and find out whether it is fact or fiction?

Claim: Is Donald Trump's photo linking Kilmar Abrego Garcia to MS-13 edited?

A social media post by US President Donald Trump on April 18, 2025, has sparked debate after he shared an image allegedly proving Kilmar Abrego Garcia's ties to the notorious Salvadoran gang MS-13.

The photo, posted on both X and Truth Social, shows Trump holding a piece of paper displaying what he claims is a photo of Abrego Garcia’s hand tattoos—presented as evidence of his gang affiliation.

Following Trump’s post, several users circulated a cropped version of the image, focusing closely on the tattoos, intensifying scrutiny over the authenticity and intent behind the post.

Fact Check: Image of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s hand shared by Donald Trump appears to be altered

According to the image shared by the 47th POTUS, Kilmar Abrego Garcia appears to have four tattoos on his knuckles: a marijuana leaf, a smiley face, a cross, and a skull. These tattoos have been verified through sources like USA Today and CASA.

However, the version of the image shared by Trump also includes the letters "MS13" and labeled descriptions of each tattoo—details that do not appear in the original photos. This strongly suggests that parts of the image were digitally altered, fact-checking site Snopes confirmed.

Experts on gang tattoos note that MS-13 members typically have distinct identifiers such as “MS” or “13” visibly tattooed on their bodies.

Since no such markings are present on Abrego Garcia, the claim that his tattoos confirm gang affiliation lacks credible evidence, the outlet reported.

ICE has not produced any proof to support the accusation, and experts were also unable to verify any connection between his tattoos and MS-13.

Regardless of the allegations, Abrego Garcia is legally entitled to due process under the US Constitution. On April 10, the Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the United States—but as of now, that directive has not been fulfilled.

Who is Kilmar Abrego Garcia?

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who illegally immigrated from El Salvador in 2012, was mistakenly detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on March 12, 2025, as per Snopes.

According to CASA, the immigration advocacy group supporting his legal case, Abrego Garcia had no criminal record in either the United States or El Salvador.

In fact, a judge had ruled in 2019 that he should not be deported due to the risk of persecution in his home country.

Despite this ruling, just three days after his detention, the US government deported him to El Salvador and sent him to the country's high-security Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) without a hearing. 

The Trump administration later admitted that his detention and deportation were the result of an “administrative error.” 

However, even after acknowledging the mistake, officials continued to insist that the decision to send him to the Salvadoran mega-prison was justified because of alleged ties to the MS-13 gang.