Erase Trump List Tattoos: Immigration Concerns
- HOUSTON, Texas – Olga, a 20-year-old Venezuelan immigrant residing in Texas, is considering covering up her tattoo.
- The phrase originates from Boricua reggaeton artist Anuel AA, a popular figure in the genre.
- Adding another layer to the situation, Anuel AA publicly supported Donald Trump during his last campaign.
Tattoos Trigger Deportation Fears Among Venezuelan Immigrants
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HOUSTON, Texas – Olga, a 20-year-old Venezuelan immigrant residing in Texas, is considering covering up her tattoo. While she doesn’t regret getting it, she now feels insecure about the ink on her arm, just above the elbow. The tattoo displays the acronym “RHLM,” which stands for “real to death.”
The phrase originates from Boricua reggaeton artist Anuel AA, a popular figure in the genre. it’s the title of his debut album and a recurring motto in his songs. Anuel AA himself sports the tattoo on his neck. Olga got the tattoo after seeing him in concert in Texas last year.However, under policies reportedly used during the Trump governance, this design is among those that could be misinterpreted as symbols identifying members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Law enforcement might perceive the tattoo as gang affiliation, potentially leading to arrest and deportation proceedings.
From Campaign Slogan to Deportation Risk
Adding another layer to the situation, Anuel AA publicly supported Donald Trump during his last campaign. He reportedly called Trump “the best president that the world has seen” at a rally in Pennsylvania in August, claiming Trump intended to help Latinos in the U.S. Now, his slogan has become a source of anxiety for Olga and other immigrants who admired the artist.
According to reports, a list of “suspicious” tattoos includes designs like a train, a star, a crown, a clock, and even the Air Jordan brand logo.
arrests and Uncertainty
Olga says she knows other Venezuelans who have been arrested because of their tattoos.She lost contact with them and presumes they are either detained or have been deported. “I did it because I like that singer a lot. I’ve always been a fan,” she said. “Anyway, now it is better that I will do something else. I don’t care what nobody finds out that I am ‘real until death.'”
Tattoo Artists See Increased Cover-Up Requests
Several tattoo artists in Texas report an increase in clients seeking to cover up existing tattoos with new designs.Julio, a Cuban tattoo artist with five years of experience, working in Texas, prefers to remain anonymous due to his undocumented status. He said, “The business has not been affected. I have not seen so much a concern based on meanings, but they want to cover old tattoos as they give the impression that they are wrong or that they are gangs.” He added that stars, crosses, and numbers are the most common tattoos clients want to cover.
Julio stated he once refused a request for the “real until death” phrase. “I don’t like doing such things, but that phrase is something cultural. I don’t think there is any related crime. They usually tattoo Spanish-speaking teenagers,” Julio said, adding that most designs on the list are quite common.
Concerns Over government Interpretation
Manuel Fernández,a 27-year-old Cuban artist at Flow Ink Tattoo in Houston,Texas,said his business has increased with clients wanting to cover up tattoos on the list.He cited two recent cases, including a man who wanted to cover an AK-47 rifle tattoo.
While Fernández doesn’t no anyone personally who has faced immigration issues due to tattoos, he believes the government is being too strict. “The truth is that I have seen concern in a few clients.Most continue to tattoo and do not care. Also because the difference between a tattoo is done professionally and one done with a criminal purpose.”
Artists Criticize Tattoo-Based Deportation Efforts
Keon Ostby, an American artist in Phoenix, Arizona, also criticized using tattoos as deportation criteria. “Using tattoos as proof for deportation is nonsense. none of the images of the list incites hate, and they are very common designs. If we were not allowed to tattoo these designs, many normal citizens, respectful of the law and taxpayers could not be tattooed,” Ostby said.
Ostby said he would not hesitate to tattoo a train or a crown. “I just refuse to make swastika, symbols of the Aria Brotherhood or others related to gangs or hate groups.But the tattoos of the list are not harmful at all. I would like the list to stop using and that people stop trying to connect the tattoos with their personal beliefs. Assume the reason for a tattoo.”
Tattoos and Deportation: A Q&A on the Fears of Venezuelan Immigrants
Q: Why are some Venezuelan immigrants in the U.S. concerned about their tattoos?
A: Venezuelan immigrants are experiencing anxiety due to the potential for their tattoos to be misinterpreted as gang affiliation, potentially leading to arrest and deportation. The use of tattoos as a criterion for deportation is a growing concern.
Q: Which tattoos are causing the most concern?
A: Several designs are raising red flags. These include seemingly innocuous images like trains, stars, crowns, clocks, and even the Air Jordan brand logo, according to reports. The acronym “RHLM,” which stands for “real to death,” is also a source of concern.
Q: What is the origin of the “RHLM” tattoo and why is it problematic?
A: The phrase “RHLM” comes from Boricua reggaeton artist Anuel AA, a popular figure in the genre. The phrase is the title of his debut album and a recurring motto in his songs. Anuel AA himself sports the tattoo on his neck. Under policies reportedly used during the Trump governance, this design, and others are being misinterpreted as symbols identifying members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Q: How is Anuel AA connected to the situation?
A: Anuel AA supported Donald Trump during his last campaign. He reportedly called Trump “the best president that the world has seen” at a rally in Pennsylvania in August, claiming trump intended to help Latinos in the U.S.Now, his slogan has become a source of anxiety for immigrants who admired the artist.
Q: Are tattoo artists seeing a change in client behavior?
A: Yes, several tattoo artists in Texas report an increase in clients seeking to cover up existing tattoos with new designs, according to the provided article.
Q: What do tattoo artists think about the situation?
A: keon Ostby, an American artist, criticized the use of tattoos as deportation criteria. Julio, a Cuban tattoo artist, stated that many clients want to cover up tattoos to give the impression that thay are not gang affiliated. Manuel Fernández, a Cuban artist, believes the government is being too strict. He also states that there is a difference between tattoos done professionally and ones done with criminal intent.
Q: What are some of the reactions of the artists mentioned regarding the situation?
A: Ostby stated that using tattoos as proof for deportation is nonsense. Ostby states that none of the images on the list incites hate, and they are very common designs. Julio is not fond of doing cover-ups but states that the phrase “real until death” is rather cultural, stating that there is no related crime with the phrase. Manuel Fernández, on the other hand, has seen an increase in business.
Q: Has anyone been arrested or deported because of their tattoos?
A: Yes, olga stated that she knows other Venezuelans who have been arrested because of their tattoos. She lost contact with them and presumes they are either detained or have been deported.