Jerce Reyes Barrios
Synopsis
Jerce Egbunik Reyes Barrios is a Venezuelan professional soccer player and coach who sought asylum in the United States in 2024 through the CBP One process. The American Immigration Council profiled his case as an example of subjective gang labeling based on tattoos and old social media images. His attorney told NPR and ABC News that ICE cited a tattoo of a soccer ball with a crown and rosary and the word "Dios," plus a hand gesture in decade-old Facebook photos, as proof of Tren de Aragua membership. Reyes Barrios and his tattoo artist said the design honored Real Madrid's logo; lawyers described the gesture as a common "rock on" or sign-language "I love you" sign. Venezuelan records showed no criminal history, and counsel said he was removed from maximum-security detention after presenting that evidence—only to be deported to CECOT on March 15, 2025, days before a scheduled April 17 asylum hearing. TIMELINE 2024 — Seeks asylum through CBP One after fleeing political violence in Venezuela (NILC, NPR). March 15, 2025 — Deported to CECOT in El Salvador on a mass removal flight; asylum hearing scheduled for April 17 never occurs (Immigration Council, ABC News). July 18, 2025 — Released from CECOT and returns to Venezuela through a U.S.–Venezuela prisoner exchange (ABC News, NILC). This profile summarizes published reporting; legal status and location may change.
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