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According to a document published by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Chicago Bulls jerseys and Air Jordan sneakers and tattoos are being linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The document was made public recently in a legal filing made by American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lawyers.
The DHS document titled “Alien Enemy Validation Guide” was sent to law enforcement agencies to help them to “identify” suspected gang members. The ACLU stated in its legal filing that this DHS guide is being used to “determine whether Venezuelan noncitizens are members of Tren de Aragua and subject to summary removal under the Alien Enemies Act.”
In it, the DHS states members of the Tren de Aragua gang “favor the Chicago Bulls basketball jersey, specifically Michael Jordan jerseys with the number ‘23’, and Jordan ‘Jump Man’ footwear.” The document also contains a photo collage of nine different tattoos including one of the Jordan Brand logo.
However, in another Department of Homeland Security document, the El Paso Sector gang unit of the U.S. Border Patrol states the Chicago Bulls jerseys are “typically related to the Venezuelan culture and not a definite indicator of being a member or associate of the [Tren de Aragua].”
“It’s very evident that just having a Michael Jordan tattoo does not necessarily mean that a person is a gang member,” Bill Hing, a law professor at the University of San Francisco told NBC News. “Jordan is popular around the world, and for many Venezuelans, he’s part of their fashion.”
Sportico Deputy Editor Eben Novy-Williams reports, “Bulls fan gear is among the NBA’s best-selling apparel, and Jordan Brand had $7 billion in revenue in Nike’s most recent fiscal year. A representative for the Bulls declined immediate comment. A representative for Jordan Brand didn’t respond to a request.”