Title: Venezuelan Prison Gang Members Enter US Illegally, Frustrating Border Authorities
In a concerning development, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a warning to agents regarding the presence of members from a notorious Venezuelan prison gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA), entering the United States illegally. This revelation comes at a time when Venezuela refuses to take back its own citizens, complicating the deportation process.
According to an internal CBP intelligence bulletin obtained by [news outlet], several tattoos and identifiers associated with TdA have been revealed. The gang, known for its violent turf wars as it expands into other countries, is attempting to establish itself within the U.S., with law enforcement agencies already linking it to organized crime. The FBI has even expressed concerns that TdA might collaborate with the notorious MS-13 gang.
Recently, it was uncovered that the brother of a suspect in the tragic killing of Georgia student Laken Riley has ties to TdA. Both individuals entered the U.S. illegally from Venezuela. This discovery further highlights the potential threat posed by TdA’s presence within American borders.
However, CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sources have voiced their frustration over the difficulty in deporting Venezuelan gang members. This is due to Venezuela’s current refusal to take back its citizens. Shockingly, despite encountering over 335,000 Venezuelans at the border, only 834 were deported in FY 2023, according to ICE data.
To discourage the flow of migrants to the border, the administration had initiated the practice of returning illegal immigrants from Venezuela directly to the socialist dictatorship. While this move faced criticism from immigration activists citing human rights abuses in Venezuela, administration officials had emphasized the importance of these repatriation flights as a deterrent.
In December, limited exceptions were made to sanctions on a Venezuelan airline to facilitate deportation flights from Canada and Latin America. However, the Maduro regime halted these flights from the U.S. and Mexico after the U.S. reimposed certain economic sanctions. The flights came to an end in January, with approximately 1,800 returns.
Prior to initiating the flights, the administration had granted deportation protections to nearly 500,000 Venezuelans already residing in the U.S. Venezuela also participates in the controversial CHNV program, which allows 30,000 migrants with sponsors from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to fly into the U.S. each month.
Despite the challenges, CBP states that Venezuelans can still be removed to Mexico. However, many individuals often re-enter the U.S. illegally after being returned to Mexico.
The presence of Tren de Aragua members entering the U.S. illegally is an alarming development, with law enforcement agencies warning of potential links to organized crime and collaboration with other notorious gangs. Addressing the issue of deportations from Venezuela is crucial in safeguarding American communities and maintaining border security.
[Reporter’s Name] is a politics reporter for [News Outlet], specializing in immigration and border security coverage. For any inquiries, they can be reached at [email address] or on Twitter.
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