Texas officials on Monday designated a Venezuelan gang called Tren de Aragua as a “foreign terrorist organization,” endorsing former President Donald Trump’s unfounded claim that many of the migrants crossing into the U.S. were released from Latin American prisons.
Authorities say Tren de Aragua is an international criminal organization operating in several Latin American countries, engaging in extortion, murder, drug trafficking and human trafficking.
Because of Venezuela’s political and economic crisismany people from that country are allowed to enter the United States and apply for asylum.
But Texas border official Mike Banks insisted that Venezuela “released the prisoners on the condition that they leave Venezuela and never return.”
Banks said the administration of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris is encouraging such people to come to the U.S. with a so-called “open borders” policy.
Harris will face Trump in the presidential election in November.
Immigration advocates have taken a starkly different stance, arguing that the Biden administration is imposing unfair restrictions on people crossing the border to seek asylum and cracking down hard at the border.
Governor Greg Abbott appeared at the same press conference as Banks and formally declared Tren de Aragua a “foreign terrorist organization.”
CBS News
It would allow authorities to go after gangs under toughened anti-terrorism laws and also allow for the creation of special units tasked with tackling the groups.
Trump said on Friday If he becomes president, he will likely order large-scale deportations of immigrants, starting with Ohio and Colorado.
The pledge came on the heels of a debate with Governor Harris earlier this week in which she made a false and debunked claim that immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating residents’ dogs and cats.
President Trump said Friday that he intends to “send the migrants back to Venezuela,” even though the majority of migrants in Springfield are Haitian.
Springfield is Strengthen security By intimidation Virus, false claims Accusations about Haitian immigrants have been circulating since being highlighted by President Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance.
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