Key Takeaways:
– U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) discovers connections between migrants and a Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua.
– 600 individuals suspecting of being associated with the gang have been identified.
– Over 100 of these are confirmed to be gang members, while others could be witnesses or victims.
– U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has apprehended over 100 gang-tied individuals since October 2022.
– Venezuelan gang infiltrates the U.S. during an unprecedented border crisis.
– Numbers could be higher due to strained relations between Venezuela and the U.S. hindering access to migrants’ criminal history.
Combating The Tren de Aragua Threat
U.S. Homeland Security has released astounding information related to international crime. They’ve unearthed ties between over six hundred migrants living in the United States and a notorious Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua.
Tren de Aragua rose to infamy in 2013 as a prison gang in the Venezuelan state of Aragua. Since then, it grew steadily. The gang now reportedly boasts thousands of members actively operating in multiple countries.
In the U.S., Tren de Aragua has a confirmed presence in fifteen states. There are also plausible hints of the gang’s activities in eight additional states.
Cracking Down on the Foreign Criminal Element
Since October 2022, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have nabbed over 100 individuals suspected of having links with Tren de Aragua. These arrests have been tied to various illegal activities. The figures show that 75 captures occurred because of immigration violations. More than 20 of those detained are poised to face federal prosecution.
The DHS has initiated a rigorous operation to locate and dismantle this threatening entity. This operation includes re-screening previously encountered individuals and enforcing stringent screening at the U.S. border. Persons confirmed or suspected to be gang members face serious repercussions, including detainment or Expedited Removal.
An Uphill Battle Against Rising Crime
Identifying Venezuelan migrants with affiliations to Tren de Aragua presents a challenge for U.S. federal immigration authorities. Due to strained relations with Venezuela, the U.S. lacks access to the criminal histories of these migrants. This lack of information potentially hides the true extent of the gang’s presence in the U.S.
Former FBI assistant director for counterintelligence, Frank Figliuzzi, expressed concern over the apparent low count of gang-associated individuals. He argues that the figure of 600 does not truly mirror the gang’s actual presence in the country.
Unprecedented Border Crisis
Rising reports of Tren de Aragua related crimes coincide with a mounting border crisis during the Biden-Harris administration. A staggering 2.1 million migrant encounters happened along the U.S.-Mexico border in the fiscal year 2024 alone. This influx has significantly contributed to a total estimated figure of 8.5 million reported migrant encounters.
Among migrants, hundreds of thousands are reportedly Venezuelan nationals. Some of them confirmed as gang members.
Egregious crimes imputed to Tren de Aragua include the takeover of several apartments in Aurora, Colorado, shooting two New York police officers, and being involved in numerous high profile crimes nationwide.
The alarming situation resonates a clear message: the U.S. law enforcement authorities are dealing with a formidable adversary in Tren de Aragua. With this critical insight from DHS, efforts to clamp down on international crime in the U.S. can hopefully become more focused and effective.