The Heritage Foundation's Border Security and Immigration Center has released a report highlighting the growing threat posed by Tren De Aragua, a Venezuelan gang, to the United States. The report scrutinizes how current immigration policies under the Biden-Harris administration have allegedly enabled the gang's entry into the country, leading to several serious crimes against Americans.
Lora Ries, Director of the Border Security and Immigration Center at Heritage, commented on the findings: “Tren de Aragua is one of the most ruthless gangs on the planet and the Biden-Harris administration is doing virtually nothing to stop them from entering the United States."
Ries further criticized the administration's handling of immigration: “The administration’s mass release and parole of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans into the country has been a disaster. The result has included robberies, murders, and sex trafficking of innocent Americans.”
She emphasized an urgent need for policy changes: “There must be an immediate change to policy and enforcement of our laws. Inaction from the administration paves the way for more crimes to be committed on the American people.”
Additional insights were provided by Simon Hankinson, Senior Research Fellow in Border Security and Immigration at Heritage, along with Erin Schniederjan, Research Assistant in Homeland Security and Asian Studies. They stated: “Importing hundreds of violent gang members to roam and commit crimes on America’s streets is not just a nightmare. Under this administration, it has become a tragic reality."
They also expressed hope that their report would increase awareness about Tren de Aragua's threats: "This gang does not belong anywhere close to the United States, and we remain hopeful that this report raises awareness on the dangers Tren de Agua poses to our nation.”
The report outlines several key points regarding immigration under current policies. It notes that hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have entered or remained in the U.S., some through Temporary Protected Status or as "gotaways" who evade authorities. Among these individuals are reportedly members of Tren de Aragua.
High-profile crimes linked to TdA have occurred across various states including Georgia, Illinois, New York, and Texas. The report suggests that some crimes by young Venezuelan men may go unnoticed by law enforcement.
Additionally, it mentions a 25 percent reduction in violent deaths in Venezuela from 2021 to 2022. This decrease could potentially be connected to Venezuela exporting many young criminals abroad.
Finally, concerns are raised about inadequate vetting processes allowing dangerous individuals easy access into America.
