Sheriffs across the US are expressing their concerns over the Biden-Harris administration’s failed border policies that have allowed violent Tren de Aragua gang members to enter the country. The Venezuelan prison gang has sent its members across the southern border posing as migrants seeking asylum, and its leadership has given them the “green light” to shoot American law enforcement officers who try to disrupt their operations. The American Sheriffs Alliance has called for national attention to the threat posed by the gang and has emphasized that the open US-Mexico border is the source of the gang’s actions.
The gang’s criminal activities in the US include human smuggling and trafficking, kidnapping, extortion schemes, and moving illicit narcotics in their areas of operation. Tren de Aragua has been linked to numerous crimes, including the shootings of two NYPD cops in June. They have also been smuggling guns into migrant shelters in Big Apple using food delivery bags. Despite the Biden administration designating the gang as a transnational criminal organization and offering millions of dollars for their capture, sheriffs believe more needs to be done to prevent the flow of gang members into the US.
Tren de Aragua has recruited new migrant arrivals in several sanctuary cities, carrying out violent crimes such as a jewelry store heist in Denver. Law enforcement sources have identified prominent members of the gang, including Jose Ibarra, who is charged with murdering a Georgia nursing student. His two brothers, who also entered the US illegally, have been identified as members of the gang. Border Patrol only started tracking the group in March 2023 and has captured around 70 members since then. However, the total number of Tren de Aragua members operating in the US is unknown due to the number of individuals entering the country undetected.
The Biden administration’s efforts to combat Tren de Aragua have been commended by sheriffs, but they believe more needs to be done to prevent the gang’s members from entering the country. The gang has become a significant threat to law enforcement officers across the country, with its leaders issuing threats to kill and injure officers. The presence of Tren de Aragua in the US is a direct result of the open US-Mexico border, highlighting the importance of securing the border to prevent the entry of violent criminal organizations.
Homeland Security sources have indicated that Tren de Aragua is likely to remain in the US as Venezuela refuses deportation flights. The gang’s activities pose a serious threat to communities, with members engaging in a range of criminal activities to further their enterprise. Sheriffs are calling for increased action to address the threat posed by Tren de Aragua, emphasizing the need for stronger border security measures to prevent violent gangs from entering the country and causing harm to law enforcement officers and communities.
