Social media has been flooded with theories that alleged gangbanger Kilmar Abrego Garcia is covered in MS-13 tattoos — but the reality might not be what it seems.
Speculation regarding his supposed gang-related ink went into overdrive after photos emerged online of Abrego Garcia — who was shipped off to El Salvador’s notorious megaprison with other reputed gang members last month — sitting down with Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen in El Salvador on Thursday.
Online sleuths quickly zeroed in on several tattoos visible on the 29-year-old’s fingers, alleging the images proved the Trump administration’s claims that Abrego Garcia was once an active MS-13 member.
Several users pointed out what they identified as a marijuana leaf, a smiley face, cross and skull inked on the father-of-three’s knuckles. Some alleged the cross and skull could be cover-up tattoos designed to mask what they described as a “1” and “3.”
“This looks like the most damning evidence yet,” one user speculated. “Marijuana leaf = M. Smiley face = S. Cross coverup = 1. Skull coverup = 3. MS-13.”
Another chimed in: “Really looks like a 1 and a 3 on his fingers there.”
An ICE source told The Post that a “13” tattoo would have been mandatory for Abrego Garcia if he became part of the notorious gang while living in the US.
This looks like the most damning evidence yet.
Knuckle tattoos on Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
Marijuana leaf = M
Smiley face = S
Cross coverup = 1
Skull coverup = 3MS-13. pic.twitter.com/AJTodcTUPJ
— captive dreamer (@siegfriedmuell) April 18, 2025
However, when asked about the speculation online regarding the images inked on Abrego Garcia’s hands, the source said: “I’ve never heard of those resemblances being made.”
The source said the theories could be “legit” but the only way of knowing would likely be confirmation from informants within the notorious prison.
“The best answer would be from informants and/or members within CECOT. Once he is in there, he cannot deny affiliation,” the source said.
The tattoo speculation started swirling after US Attorney General Pam Bondi released documents earlier this week alleging Abrego Garcia was an active MS-13 member and that he’d held the ranks of “Chequeo” and the street name “Chele” within the violent international gang.
The documents, though, don’t make any mention of Abrego Garcia brandishing any MS-13-affiliated tattoos.
According to a gang field interview sheet, ICE agents noted that Garcia was wearing a Chicago Bulls hat and a hoodie “with rolls of money covering the eyes, ears and mouth of the presidents on the separate denominations.”
The report then states that “officers know such clothing to be indicative of the Hispanic gang culture.”
The meaning of the clothing, the document states, is “to represent ‘ver, oir y caliar’ or ‘see no evil, hear no evil and say no evil.’”
It comes as Abrego Garcia‘s high-profile deportation battle only continues to rage on after Abrego Garcia, who left El Salvador at age 16, was booted from the US last month.
The Salvadoran migrant, who was living in Maryland with his wife and kids when he was nabbed by ICE, was granted a protective order in 2019 to live in the US and has never been charged with or convicted of any crime.
The US Supreme Court has since ordered the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return from his native El Salvador after Washington acknowledged he was deported due to an administrative error.
Despite admitting the “clerical error” in Abrego Garcia’s deportation, the White House has insisted he should remain in El Salvador.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said earlier this week that he has no intention of returning Abrego Garcia to the US.
Abrego Garcia’s lawyers, meanwhile, have denied the Justice Department’s allegation that he is a member of the criminal gang MS-13.
