In a time when images can be edited with the swipe of a finger, and truth can be twisted into something barely recognizable, we are reminded just how critical discernment is — not only as citizens, but especially as Christians. The story of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father of three wrongly deported to El Salvador, has become a case study in how facts can be distorted, narratives manipulated, and justice put on pause — all in the name of political theater.

A Doctored Image and a Distorted Reality

Let’s begin with the image shared yesterday by President Trump on his Truth Social platform. In the photo, Trump is holding up what appears to be a close-up of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s left hand, bearing a set of tattoos — except this time, something new appears: the bold characters “MS-13” now inked across his knuckles.

It’s a dramatic image. Powerful. Provocative. And based on all currently available evidence — almost certainly digitally altered.

Am I absolutely certain it was doctored? No. But here’s what I do know:

• There is no record of Abrego Garcia having “MS-13” tattooed on his knuckles.
• A photo taken just a day earlier with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who traveled to El Salvador to advocate for Garcia’s release, shows the same hand — no MS-13 in sight.
• And this all comes from the same administration that admitted to deporting Garcia by mistake, despite a court order explicitly barring his removal to El Salvador.

Given the string of falsehoods and bureaucratic blunders, let’s just say my willingness to give the Trump administration the benefit of the doubt here is somewhere between slim and none.

As Proverbs 14:15 reminds us: “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.”

Public Trial by Social Media

Here’s the troubling reality: Kilmar Abrego Garcia has not been charged with any crime — not in the United States, and not in El Salvador. Yet, he’s being tried in the court of public opinion, with President Trump and his surrogates portraying him as a member of MS-13, one of the most brutal and feared gangs in the world.

Why? To reinforce a narrative. By spotlighting Garcia as a so-called gang member, the message is clear — “We’re tough on crime and immigration. We act decisively, not delicately.” And let’s be honest, in today’s climate, there’s always political capital to be gained by appearing “tough” — even when the facts don’t back it up. Garcia — wrongfully deported or not — becomes a convenient symbol in a larger immigration drama. To quote an old saying, “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.”

But here’s the deeper issue: when individuals are reduced to props for political messaging, truth becomes a casualty. And when we — the people — accept surface-level narratives without demanding real evidence, we risk trading our convictions for slogans and our discernment for outrage.

As Christians, we’re called to walk in truth, not simply follow the crowd. That means asking hard questions, resisting manipulation, and standing for justice — even when it’s uncomfortable or politically inconvenient. Truth doesn’t shift with the headlines, and neither should our commitment to it.

Let’s Talk About the Tattoos

Now, Garcia does have some tattoos — specifically, four symbols on his fingers:

• A marijuana leaf
• A smiley face
• A cross
• A skull

Now let’s be honest — that’s not exactly the Sunday school starter pack. But is it a gang-affiliated signature?

Let’s break it down:

• Marijuana Leaf: Suggests drug use or identification with marijuana culture. Not uncommon, especially among younger men. Not gang-specific.
• Smiley Face: A common tattoo with no gang association. Could mean anything from irony to happiness to youthful rebellion.
• Cross: Found in countless tattoos worldwide — especially in Christian or Catholic cultural contexts. Sometimes even tattooed in prison as a sign of repentance.
• Skull: Often used to symbolize death, toughness, or edginess. Common in biker, prison, and even heavy metal subcultures. And yes, sometimes associated with gangs, including MS-13.

Except for the skull, none of these, either individually or combined, have been documented by law enforcement as identifying marks of MS-13 membership.

What MS-13 Tattoos Actually Look Like

Now if Garcia were an MS-13 member, the signs would likely be much more obvious. MS-13 is a gang that brands its members, sometimes literally. Their tattoos often include:

• The letters “MS”, “MS-13”, or “MSX3”
• The number “13”, often stylized or prominently displayed
• “503” (El Salvador’s country code)
• Old English or Gothic fonts
• Skulls, devils, machetes, or religious symbols with gang context

These tattoos are bold, visible, and intended to intimidate. They’re gang membership cards inked on the skin. Garcia’s tattoos? They may be tasteless or unfortunate, but they are not necessarily identifiers of gang affiliation, and certainly not MS-13.

The Real Outrage: The Rule of Law Ignored

What makes this even more outrageous is that Garcia was deported despite a court order. The Trump administration admitted it was an “administrative error” — yet after the mistake was made public, they doubled down instead of correcting it.

The Supreme Court has ruled 9-0 that Garcia must be returned to the United States, yet the administration refuses. President Trump claims it’s up to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, even though the U.S. is reportedly paying El Salvador $6 million to hold Garcia and more than 250 other men who were deported under similar circumstances. A 60 Minutes investigation found that 75% of those men have no criminal record.

This is no longer about border security. This is about bureaucratic cruelty and political deflection. And we should not stand for it.

Conservatism with a Conscience

As a Christian conservative, I support strong borders. I believe in law and order, national security, and protecting American families from genuine threats — like cartels and violent gangs. But our movement loses its moral foundation when it begins to sacrifice truth for political advantage.

We do not protect America by bearing false witness. We do not honor God by ignoring injustice. And we do not advance conservatism by abandoning the very principles that made it worth defending in the first place.

If Kilmar Abrego Garcia is innocent, and the evidence continues to point in that direction, then we must stand for him — not because he’s perfect, but because truth still matters.

Even — and perhaps especially — when it’s inconvenient.