US Homeland Security Misattributes British Man's Tattoo to Venezuelan Gang

Pete Belton, a 44-year-old man from Derbyshire, England, was shocked to find his tattoo featured in a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) document meant to help identify members of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang. Belton's tattoo, which commemorates his daughter's birth, appeared alongside images of other tattoos associated with gang members. He has no ties to TdA and expressed concerns about potential complications during his upcoming family trip to Miami, humorously suggesting it could lead to a 'six-month all-inclusive holiday to Guantanamo.' The DHS has defended its use of the tattoo as part of its broader intelligence assessments, though critics argue that many tattoos cited are common designs that could mistakenly implicate innocent individuals. A reverse image search traced Belton's tattoo back to a 2016 Instagram post, raising questions about the sourcing of images in the DHS report. Neither the DHS nor the Texas Department of Public Safety has provided a clear explanation for how Belton's tattoo was included in their materials.