El Salvadorian authorities have become more precise in identifying gang tattoos, focusing on specific markings.

Question

In El Salvador, authorities have become more precise in identifying gang-related tattoos — focusing on specific markings.

Answer 1

This is true, as stated by the reporter in the video from CNN “You can see the Santa Muerte (tattoo). This is something that was actually adopted from the Mexican’s Sinaloa Cartel…. In MS-13’s case… they used often times their body as an ‘in memorium’ essentially to remember other gang members.” Although, I wish the link for the article pasted to the video talked more on the use of distinguishing certain tattoos. Other reports, such as those from ICE show that those charged with violent crimes or drug related crimes who turn out to be here illegally are commonly covered in tattoos representing multiple different kinds of gangs. One heading reading “25 arrested in Chicago area during ICE operation targeting gang members with gang tattoos.” https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/25-arrested-chicago-area-during-ice-operation-targeting-gang-members The men arrested were covered in tattoos from Latin Kings, Vice Lords, Latin Saints, Sureño13, and more. I think you should have used more sources to show that this was true instead of only using a short video. 

Comments

I agree with your sentiment that the original poster should have used more sources, however is your source unbiased? I think that you also could have added another source to further prove your point, especially when you told the original poster to have more than one source

Answer 2

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/americas/el-salvador-shares-gang-intel-with-us-intl-latam/index.html

This specific statement is untrue. The primary source is CNN. The article never mentions "precise identification of tattoos or markings'. The reporter describes El Salvadorian Police stating that they run each person through databases to check gang affiliation. Even with this statement CNN received no evidence for this claim or any solid information about this "process"

Comments

I think It's good that you read through the article to find whether or not this claim is true in the first place. However, I think you could have looked to see if there were other articles claiming this to be true though.

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I agree  with your point that CNN’s article didn’t specifically express that tattoos were key in identifying gangs and gang members, however the claim that tattoos are used as identifiers is not wrong. Unless your claim was that this specific article did not say that, you would be wrong, as multiple reports with El Salvadorian prison guards and staff members have claimed using tattoos as markers for gang members. Also, the link attached was to a tweet of a video where they were specifically stating that tattoos were markers. So again, in reference to specifically the article you would be correct, but to the claim, you would be incorrect.

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I am not someone who decries the veracity of the statements made by mainstream media, but I also know that there are many varying viewpoints and biases that go into these news companies that can be misleading. I would like to ask if you have found any sort of similar claims made by other news sources, however.