A tattoo belonging to a man from Derbyshire has mistakenly appeared in a U.S. government document intended to help identify members of a notorious Venezuelan gang, despite him having no ties to the group.
Pete Belton, 44, from Ilkeston, was stunned to discover that a photo of his forearm tattoo was included in a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) document meant to assist in identifying alleged members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a transnational criminal organization.
"I'm just an average middle-aged man from Derbyshire," he told BBC Verify. "At first it seemed a bit funny, but now I’m genuinely concerned."
The tattoo, a clock face showing the date and time of his daughter’s birth, was listed among nine images described as examples of TdA tattoos. Others included stars, crowns, and the Michael Jordan "Jumpman" logo.
Belton fears the mix-up could impact a planned family holiday to Miami in August. "It might turn into a six-month all-inclusive holiday to Guantanamo," he joked nervously.
Court documents reveal that tattoos play a role in how U.S. immigration authorities assess potential gang ties. Officials use a points-based system known as the "Alien Enemy Validation Guide," where tattoos associated with TdA can contribute significantly to a person's score and, in some cases, grounds for detention or deportation.
DHS states that its assessments rely on more than just tattoos or social media posts, but Belton isn’t reassured. "If I was working at border control and saw me walk in, I’d probably think, ‘Hey up, that’s the guy from the document.’"
The tattoo image used by DHS appears to have been taken from a 2016 Instagram post by a Nottingham-based tattoo artist, raising questions about the vetting of sources. The same image was also featured in a September 2024 report by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Despite requests, neither DHS nor Texas DPS have explained how Belton’s tattoo ended up in the reports. DHS has maintained confidence in its intelligence-gathering methods.
Experts say tattoos are not reliable indicators of gang membership. Ronna Rísquez, a Venezuelan investigative journalist and author on TdA, confirmed the gang has no official tattoo or symbol.
"Membership must be determined through police investigations and criminal records, not tattoos, clothing, or nationality," she said.
Previous cases suggest the stakes are high. U.S. media have reported individuals deported over tattoos later shown to have no gang connections, including a Real Madrid-inspired crown and another with “mum” and “dad” written below.
Back in Ilkeston, Belton says his family is reconsidering their U.S. trip. “Hopefully now they’ll realise I’m not a Venezuelan gangster,” he said, “but with the way things are going, who knows?”
