Representative Eric Swalwell had the photoshopped image walked over to her.

The Trump administration just became so much more Orwellian.

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command,” George Orwell wrote in his cautionary tale about totalitarianism, 1984.

On Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took that command a step further, refusing to even acknowledge a doctored photo depicting alleged gang tattoos on Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s knuckles, which the White House has repeatedly used to justify his deportation.

In a heated back-and-forth with Representative Eric Swalwell during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing, Noem repeatedly swerved away from answering direct questions about the photo, which was displayed on a massive poster board behind the California lawmaker.

  • @Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world
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    1171 month ago

    Magas are desperately trying to avoid the trap. He has tattoos that could symbolize MS13. So if a symbol is undeniable proof, then Hegseth’s Nazi symbol tattoos becomes undeniable proof.

    But even if he had actual MS13 tattoos, it’s still ridiculous. Kids get all sorts of tattoos to look cool. Is Trump going to depart all the white trash girls with Chinese character tattoos?

    • @Absaroka@lemmy.world
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      341 month ago

      Lets also not forget somebody was deported for an “MS-13” tattoo that was in fact an Autism awareness tattoo.

      This is why they’re pushing back against due process. They want to be able to make up shit and deport who they want.

    • @Auli@lemmy.ca
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      281 month ago

      Could how? People saying this represents that is not reality. How is a skull 3. And experts say you know what MS 13 have tattooed MS 13.

      • @ToastedRavioli@midwest.social
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        1 month ago

        Gang members dont want to give themselves away. So instead of throwing overt and specific signs, you have to look for covert gang signs such as the friendly wave, peace signs, or rock n roll 🤘

        • BigFig
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          141 month ago

          MS-13 does not use covert tattoos, they are VERY open about their membership tattoos because it signifies ownership of that person by the group.

          • @ToastedRavioli@midwest.social
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            141 month ago

            I thought I was being blatantly sarcastic, but apparently not.

            To be quite frank Im not aware of any gangs that dont have like 10 different distinct visual ways to identify themselves. Be it colors, tattoos, signs, etc.

            Hiding gang affiliation is a bit of a “bitch move” I would think from a gangbanger perspective

        • @RedditIsDeddit@lemmy.world
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          21 month ago

          this is bullshit tons of gangs have very blatant tattoos to identify themselves as gang members it’s part of the culture of gang life and has been forever. MS-13 in particular shows off their exact name in the “ms- 13” symbol and you can Google this and see thousands of pictures of MS-13 members with those exact tattoos all over their faces in the next and everywhere else

            • Batman
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              31 month ago

              Well, I chuckled when I reached the end of your comment. …and then a bit more at that exchange over not getting it.

              Then, woke my dog and spooked a cat with the snort-honk sound or whatever that was I just did, seeing a second one AND downvotes over folks not getting it. Even with you explaining it. Wowza.

              I appreciate ya! I need these random smiles amongst the heavy news.

    • @prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      271 month ago

      So if a symbol is undeniable proof, then Hegseth’s Nazi symbol tattoos becomes undeniable proof.

      Lol no. You seem to think they care about hypocrisy when it’s pointed out to them. They do not.

      You’re wasting your time.

      • Fenrir
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        101 month ago

        Thank you, people always patting themselves on the back after pointing out the hypocrisy or dunking on them on Twitter.

        • @Mog_fanatic@lemmy.world
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          101 month ago

          This is a strange take. Just because they blatantly skirt (or take a big fat dump on) the law and ignore their own hypocrisy routinely certainly doesn’t mean it’s useless or stupid to continually point it out.

    • @mokus@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      221 month ago

      Even if he has MS13 tattoos and a real legit MS13 membership card, I don’t care - we [are supposed to] have “freedom of association” here, meaning that membership in an organization alone should not be a crime.

          • @Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world
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            -11 month ago

            Marijuana, Smile, 1. Skull is a stretch for the 3.

            If it’s absurd, then an iron cross tattoo doesn’t mean white power either. So yeah it’s interpreted. But it doesn’t matter. So what if he had MS13 literally tattooed across his face? That’s not a crime.

    • @gamer@lemm.ee
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      61 month ago

      I think you’re giving them too much credit. I doubt they’ve considered that, or would even care if they did.

      The real, sadder, reason is that Trump fell for a doctored photo, and these people are too scared to tell him he’s wrong.

    • @j0ester@lemmy.world
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      51 month ago

      Is Trump going to depart all the white trash girls with Chinese character tattoos?

      That could be later.