President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency laid down the law against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the accused MS-13 gang member deported to El Salvador, during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing on Monday.
Speaking with Sen. Lindsey Graham, Terrence Cole, who currently serves as Virginia’s public safety administrator, appeared relaxed as he returned answers about whether members of the violent gang carry “membership cards” and defended the administration’s decision to deport Garcia based on tattoos officials claim prove his affiliation.
“Are you familiar with MS-13? Briefly, what are they?” Graham asked.
“They’re a terrorist organization,” Cole replied. “[They’re involved in] extortion, kidnapping, drugs, intimidation, money laundering…”
The South Carolina senator facetiously asked about gang “membership cards” and whether a series of tattoos on Garcia’s knuckles were signifiers of his association with MS-13.
“Not necessarily the membership cards, but they are well recognized based on tattoos and different [things],” Cole said.
Graham then held up a series of photos of Garcia’s tattoos.
“Based on your time and experience and expertise in the DEA, what does that photo or those markings suggest to you?” he asked.
“Well, they suggest that he’s an MS-13 member — that those are his markings. That’s his brand.”
A leaf on Garcia’s first knuckle stood for the letter M, or “marijuana” he said. The second knuckle contains a “smiley face” and stars with S, followed by the number “1” and what “looks like a backwards 3, from here.”
“So based on your time as a DEA agent in the field, particularly in Mexico, these tattoos are consistent with MS-13 associations,” Graham asked.
“Yes sir, that’s correct,” Cole replied.
Watch:
🚨Lindsey Graham just asked DEA Administrator Nominee Terrance Cole about terrorist Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s MS-13 tattoos:
GRAHAM: “Based on your time as a DEA agent… these tattoos are consistent with MS-13 associations?”
COLE: “Yes, sir. Correct.”pic.twitter.com/GKmzn4jJuG
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 30, 2025
Since Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s (D-MD) much-publicized trip to El Salvador, where he visited with Garcia in prison, other Democrats have rallied to the ex-Maryland man’s defense, much to the chagrin of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). On Monday, Fox News reported that Jeffries is now discouraging his caucus from making any further trips to appeal for Garcia’s freedom, perhaps an acknowledgment that the case has only grown weaker.
Last week, President Trump parried queries from a reporter who petitioned him to call the country’s president, Nayib Bukele, and order Garcia’s release. Trump replied that the former illegal immigrant is “not a nice guy” and refused to do so.
During the interview with ABC News’ Terry Moran, Trump also pointed to the tattoos on Garcia’s knuckles as evidence of his gang membership.
“Wait a minute, he had ‘MS-13’ on his knuckles,” he told the journalist, who countered that “some tattoos that were interpreted that way.”
Other evidence stacked up against Garcia includes the revelation that he appeared to be stopped in 2022 while smuggling human trafficking victims. During a period of three years, Garcia’s ex-wife called emergency services to state that she feared for her safety around Garcia, claiming he had been violent toward her and her young children.
The former husband of Garcia’s wife also previously denounced him, saying his ex was “dating a gang member” as he sought custody of the couple’s children.
Tattoos are forever.