Foreign Crooks Exploit State Department Travel Program to Target Affluent US Neighborhoods
Authorities are sounding the alarm on a disturbing new burglary trend that has taken hold in affluent neighborhoods across the United States. Foreign crooks are capitalizing on the State Department’s travel program to case out these neighborhoods and ransack homes for profit. This brazen criminal activity has left homeowners feeling vulnerable and violated.
These criminals employ sophisticated tactics to carry out their nefarious schemes. Using cellphone-jamming equipment, they disrupt Wi-Fi networks and expensive security systems, rendering them useless. In some instances, investigators have caught these criminals hiding in brush, wearing ghillie suits, and patiently waiting for homeowners to leave so they can sneak inside undetected.
The ease with which these criminals operate is made possible by Chile’s inclusion in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. This program allows tourists and business travelers from approved countries to enter the United States for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa or undergoing a thorough vetting process. Chile, the only Latin American country on the approved list, is taking advantage of its inclusion to send criminals to wealthy U.S. neighborhoods to pillage private homes.
Once inside, these burglars target the second floor of homes, where homeowners are less likely to have alarms on their doors and windows. They then sell off the stolen property both in the U.S. and overseas, leaving victims devastated and law enforcement agencies scrambling to address this growing issue.
Orange County, California, District Attorney Todd Spitzer has been at the forefront of raising awareness about this alarming trend. He has emphasized that these burglaries are not crimes of opportunity but meticulously planned and calculated attacks on what should be our safe havens – our homes. Spitzer’s office has been urging Chile to conduct criminal background checks on its end for the waiver program and to share pertinent information with the U.S. authorities. Regrettably, Chile has failed to uphold its responsibilities, resulting in career criminals being treated as first-time offenders when caught on U.S. soil.
Various police departments in Southern California, including Orange County, have reported an increase in these types of burglaries. In fact, Spitzer filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration for failing to respond to public records requests regarding documentation on this issue. The urgency of addressing this problem cannot be overstated, as similar crimes have been reported in other states such as Michigan, New Jersey, and New York.
Law enforcement sources have revealed that this crime wave could be swiftly halted if the State Department takes action to revoke Chile’s status under the Visa Waiver Program. By removing Chile from the program, which allows its citizens to travel to the U.S. without any vetting, the flow of criminals into our neighborhoods would be significantly curtailed.
It is imperative that we prioritize the safety and security of our communities. The Biden administration and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas must take decisive action to address this issue. We cannot allow foreign criminals to exploit our system and violate the sanctity of our homes. The time for action is now.
