Kristi Noem Won’t Acknowledge Trump’s Photo Of Abrego Garcia’s ‘MS-13’ Tattoos Was Doctored

Forbes - May 14th, 2025

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced intense questioning from Rep. Eric Swalwell during a House hearing about a photoshopped image of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, which President Trump used to justify Garcia's deportation to El Salvador. Despite the photo being clearly altered to display 'MS-13' on Garcia's knuckles, Noem avoided confirming its inaccuracy, focusing instead on defending the deportation based on broader evidence. The Trump administration's deportation claim relies heavily on a 2019 police interview with a confidential informant, despite Garcia's lawyers and local police denying his gang affiliation. The deportation has faced legal challenges, with a U.S. District Judge and the Supreme Court ruling in favor of facilitating Garcia's return to the U.S.

The ongoing controversy surrounding Garcia's deportation highlights issues of misinformation and legal defiance by the Trump administration. While Trump continues to assert the authenticity of the doctored photo, legal proceedings have stalled as the Justice Department invokes state secrets privilege to withhold information. The case underscores the tension between the executive branch and the judiciary, as well as the potential consequences of misinformation in immigration policy. Meanwhile, diplomatic complications arise as both the U.S. and El Salvador dispute the responsibility for initiating Garcia's return, despite a court order mandating action from the U.S.

Donald Trump Justice Department Kristi Noem Deportation U.S. Supreme Court Eric Swalwell Ms 13 Kilmar Abrego Garcia Photoshop Controversy

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.0

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article provides a detailed account of the controversy surrounding Kilmar Abrego Garcia's deportation and the alleged manipulation of evidence by the Trump administration. It effectively highlights key issues of public interest, such as immigration policy and government accountability, while maintaining a clear and engaging narrative. However, the story could benefit from greater balance and transparency, as it leans towards a critical perspective without fully exploring all viewpoints. The lack of direct citations and detailed attribution for some claims also affects the overall credibility of the report. Despite these limitations, the article remains timely and relevant, addressing important topics that resonate with current political debates.

Accuracy

The story presents several factual claims that align with known events, such as the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and the controversy over the photo allegedly showing "MS-13" tattoos on his knuckles. The article accurately reflects President Trump's insistence that the photo is real, despite evidence suggesting it is doctored. However, the story could benefit from more precise attribution of sources and evidence, especially regarding the claims about the photo being photoshopped and the legal challenges surrounding Abrego Garcia's deportation. The mention of a 2019 court order and the claim that the deportation was made in error are significant and require verification through court documents or credible sources. Overall, the article is mostly accurate but lacks some specific details that would enhance its verifiability.

Balance

The article primarily presents the perspective of those critical of the Trump administration's actions, including statements from Rep. Eric Swalwell and the legal challenges faced by the administration. While it mentions the administration's stance, it does not provide a detailed exploration of their arguments or reasoning. This could lead to a perception of bias, as the story leans towards a critical view without fully exploring the administration's justification for Abrego Garcia's deportation. Including more viewpoints from the administration or independent experts could provide a more balanced perspective.

Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, with a logical flow that guides the reader through the key points of the story. The language is straightforward, making it accessible to a general audience. However, the article occasionally assumes prior knowledge of the situation, such as the legal context of Abrego Garcia's case, which may affect comprehension for readers unfamiliar with the topic. Providing additional background information and clearer explanations of complex legal issues would improve clarity.

Source quality

The article references statements from public figures such as Kristi Noem and Eric Swalwell, and mentions legal proceedings, suggesting a reliance on credible sources. However, it lacks direct citations or links to primary sources, such as court documents or official statements, that would enhance its credibility. The absence of detailed attribution for some claims, such as the photo being photoshopped, weakens the overall source quality. Providing more direct references to official records or expert testimonies would improve the reliability of the reporting.

Transparency

The article provides some context for the claims made, such as the background on Abrego Garcia's deportation and the controversy over the photo. However, it does not offer a clear explanation of the methodology used to verify the claims or disclose any potential conflicts of interest. The lack of transparency regarding the sources of information and the basis for some assertions, such as the photo being edited, makes it difficult for readers to fully assess the impartiality of the report. Greater transparency in sourcing and methodology would enhance the article's credibility.