This article was originally published on Washington Examiner - Opinion. You can read the original article HERE
The relentless infiltration of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua into the United States represents a dire national security threat and a direct assault on the safety of our citizens. As these criminals establish themselves in major metropolitan centers from New York City to Dallas, they bring not just violence but a new challenge to our law enforcement agencies.
Gov. Greg Abbott‘s (R-TX) recent designation of this gang as a foreign terrorist organization in Texas is a necessary response to a crisis that has already led to the murder of many Americans and the disruption of our communities.
Just this month, four members of the Venezuelan gang were arrested following a brutal $75,000 jewelry heist in Texas, which involved the pistol-whipping of an innocent woman and a stand-off with Texas law enforcement.
Tren de Aragua’s rise is no accident — it is a direct result of the gaping holes in our border security and the negligence of federal leadership under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. While states such as Texas are taking decisive action, the federal response has been woefully inadequate. Our border remains porous, a virtual welcome mat for terrorists and criminals masquerading as asylum-seekers.
Tren de Aragua thrives within the migrant shelters of our major cities, turning them into bases for their criminal enterprises. In New York City, for example, Tren de Aragua operates with chilling efficiency. It exploits the city’s sanctuary policies to shield its operations, using delivery services as a cover for moving drugs and weapons, including a deadly mix of fentanyl known as “pink cocaine.” It has turned parts of the city into no-go zones where even the police tread cautiously.
In Texas, the gang’s influence stretches from the state’s border towns to its largest cities, embedding within communities and breeding fear and violence. Recent reports of its operations in Dallas, where it orchestrates robberies and runs protection rackets, illustrate its reach.
The gang’s activities are not just limited to organized crime. They are directly linked to acts of terrorism against the public and law enforcement. In New York City, for instance, it has been bold enough to engage in shootouts with NYPD officers.
This gang’s modus operandi is terrorism, and the blood of Americans is on its hands. Every robbery, every drug sold, and every life taken adds to its campaign of terrorism within our borders.
The Biden-Harris administration’s response has been to offer platitudes and half-measures while American lives are shattered by the violence brought on by its inaction.
Our government must arm our law enforcement with the legal authority and resources necessary to dismantle Tren de Aragua and similar threats. We must secure our borders with absolute resolve, using all available means to prevent the entry of dangerous individuals. Each day that Tren de Aragua is allowed to operate within our borders is another day Americans are left vulnerable to its expanding web of violence and crime.
The Biden administration, and Harris in particular, must be held accountable for the chaos and violence that its policies have invited into our communities. A change in leadership is imperative to restore safety and order.
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Lance Gooden is a U.S. representative for Texas and serves on the House Judiciary Committee and House Armed Services Committee.
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