The United States is facing a growing threat from transnational gangs, particularly from the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been actively trying to counter the group’s presence, a former FBI agent, Dan Brunner, has voiced concerns that the agency may be underestimating the scale of the problem.
Brunner argues that the number of Tren de Aragua members operating within the U.S. could be significantly higher than officially reported. He urges authorities to take a more aggressive approach to combat the gang’s activities within the country.
Adding to the concern, reports have surfaced that DHS approved refugee applications for members of Tren de Aragua. Internal emails revealed that the agency’s refugee operations head, Kevin Grigsby, acknowledged that individuals with gang affiliations were granted refugee status and entered the U.S. before being flagged by other agencies through their tattoos.
“Unfortunately, we did not ask about the tattoos during our adjudication or did not identify that the tattoos asked about were consistent with gang membership,” Grigsby wrote in a September 2023 email obtained by The Washington Times.
The revelation has prompted DHS to intensify its screening process and implement a rescreening operation focusing on individuals with potential ties to Tren de Aragua. Over 600 migrants have been flagged, although DHS clarified that many might be relatives or victims of the gang, not members themselves.
Despite these efforts, the agency has decided against placing over 100 migrants identified with possible gang links on the FBI watchlist.
The issue has also gained prominence in the 2024 presidential election, with former President Trump vowing to dismantle “every illegal migrant criminal network” operating in the U.S. by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
Tren de Aragua’s origins can be traced back to the Tocoron prison in Venezuela’s Aragua state. The gang has since expanded its reach into other South American countries, including Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and now, the United States. Its growth within the U.S. coincides with the ongoing surge in migrant crossings at the southern border.
The gang has been implicated in various criminal activities in states like New York, Texas, and Colorado, including extortion, drug trafficking, and violence.
The situation highlights the growing challenge posed by transnational organized crime and the need for a comprehensive, coordinated strategy to address the threat. While DHS is actively working to combat the gang, the recent revelations underscore the critical need for enhanced border security, immigration vetting procedures, and proactive law enforcement operations to prevent further infiltration by these dangerous groups.