LaLota, D’Esposito, Correa Bill to Combat Violent Venezuelan Gang Unanimously Passes Homeland Security Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Reps. Nick LaLota (R-NY), Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), and Lou Correa (D-CA) released the following statement after their bipartisan Tren de Aragua Southwest Border Security Threat Assessment Act unanimously passed the Homeland Security Committee. This bipartisan bill would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a Southwest border threat assessment regarding criminal threats posed by TdA members seeking to illegally enter the United States and require DHS to create a strategic plan to mitigate threats identified in the threat assessment.
“I am proud to announce that my bipartisan legislation to combat the dangerous Tren de Aragua gang has passed the House Committee on Homeland Security. This criminal organization, which has been called 'MS-13 on steroids,' poses a direct threat to our communities as they exploit weaknesses at our Southwest border,” said LaLota. “My bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a comprehensive border threat assessment and develop a strategic plan to address these violent criminals infiltrating our neighborhoods. My common sense, bipartisan legislation will directly bring the fight to TdA and prevent them from further establishing a foothold in the United States.”
“I’m proud to stand with my good friend and Long Island’s own Rep. Nick LaLota in advancing his legislation, the ‘Tren de Aragua Southwest Border Security Threat Assessment Act,” said D’Esposito. “I co-sponsored this legislation because Americans have a right to know exactly how dangerous and pervasive emerging threats like Tren De Aragua are, and how we can best combat them in an effort to keep Americans safe.”
“Orange County families, and every family across the country, deserve to feel safe and secure in the neighborhoods they call home—and we’re working to make sure criminal syndicates like Tren de Aragua that terrorize families and small businesses on Main Street get taken down,” said Correa. “To do that effectively, we need to gather the facts and intelligence on specific threats facing the homeland. This bill will help to provide Congress information on the threats posed by Tren de Aragua, and I’m hopeful that it will be given a floor vote in the House in short order—to protect our neighborhoods and those who call them home.”
To read the full text of the legislation, click HERE.
To listen to Rep. LaLota’s remarks during the markup, click HERE.
Background:
Tren de Aragua (TdA) - dubbed “MS-13 on steroids” - is an extremely violent Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) that began its operations as a prison gang in the Venezuelan state of Aragua. Thousands of foreign nationals, associated with TdA have proliferated throughout the United States under the Biden-Harris administration.
The New York Times recently published an article detailing the emergence of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in New York City. The gang, which is involved in sex trafficking, human smuggling, and drug dealing, has surfaced amid the recent surge of migrants over the past two years. Law enforcement officials are actively working to curb the gang's activities, which include thefts of high-end merchandise from department stores, ride-by robberies on scooters, and involvement in violent crimes.
The New York Post recently published an article detailing how the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua has exploited New York City's migrant shelters to build a criminal empire. The gang is reportedly running operations involving drug sales, prostitution, and armed robberies, using the shelters as recruitment centers and bases of operation. They have been known to use disguises such as food delivery uniforms to carry out their crimes, and their reach has extended to various neighborhoods, significantly impacting the city's safety.
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