The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently unveiled data suggesting that over 600 migrants in the United States may have ties to the notorious Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua.
This group has been on the FBI's radar due to its involvement in illicit activities such as human smuggling, extortion, and drug trafficking.
As reported by Straight Arrow News, the DHS report, initially obtained by NBC News, indicated that approximately 100 of these 600 migrants are confirmed members of Tren de Aragua. These individuals are "subjects of interest" that the department has sought to place on an FBI watchlist. The remaining individuals could potentially be gang members, victims, or witnesses.
The data further disclosed that Tren de Aragua has an established presence in at least 15 states, with a possible presence in eight others. The gang came to the attention of the American public in August when a video of armed men invading an apartment building in Aurora, Colorado, circulated widely online. The Aurora Police Department subsequently confirmed the presence of the gang in the city.
The issue of immigration has taken center stage in the concluding weeks of former President Donald Trump's presidential campaign. Trump has criticized his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, for her perceived lack of action on the immigration issue during her tenure. Harris, who visited the U.S.-Mexico border in September, has pledged to implement "common-sense" solutions.
The DHS has acknowledged the difficulty in determining the exact number of Tren de Aragua members in the U.S. This challenge arises from Venezuela's refusal to share criminal records with U.S. officials, unlike most countries. This lack of information hampers border agents' ability to identify gang members, leading law enforcement officials to suspect that the actual number may be higher.
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