The chapter critically examines the research conducted by Charles Wetli and associates on the tattoos of dead Cuban immigrants who arrived during the Mariel boatlift. By closely examining Wetli's scholarship and work techniques as medical examiner, the author sheds light on how Wetli's White medical gaze objectified the dead bodies of Black and Brown immigrants. Wetli's focus on tattoos as markers of deviance and criminal behavior reflects the biased lens through which he viewed and analyzed the bodies of these marginalized people. Situating Wetli's approach to the bodies of the Marielitos within the history of persecution of Afro-Cuban religions, the author exposes the role of medical examiners in perpetuating biased law enforcement narratives. Through a decolonial analysis, this chapter highlights the inherent power dynamics and racial biases embedded in medical-criminological research.
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