Members of Missouri’s congressional delegation are pressing President Joe Biden for explanations regarding the release of known and suspected members of the Tren de Aragua (TdA), a violent Venezuelan prison gang, into the state. The lawmakers expressed outrage over federal authorities’ decision to direct local law enforcement to release the individuals, citing Venezuela’s refusal to accept deportees.
The TdA gang, designated as a transnational criminal organization by the U.S. Treasury Department in July, is linked to over 100 law enforcement investigations nationwide. Known for murder, kidnapping, extortion, human and drug trafficking, and other violent crimes, the gang has expanded its operations across the Western Hemisphere, including in the U.S.
The incident in Missouri occurred in late October, when Clinton County officers stopped two men during a traffic stop. Federal officials identified the men as a known and a suspected TdA member, both in the country illegally. One man was awaiting a federal immigration court hearing, and the other had an active removal order requiring mandatory detention. Despite their criminal ties, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) advised the officers to release the men, citing Venezuela’s lack of cooperation in deportation cases.
The congressional delegation, led by U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, criticized the administration for failing to enforce immigration laws and hold Venezuela accountable. “These delays, sometimes indefinite, not only give the appearance that a foreign nation is being allowed to dictate the enforcement of U.S. immigration law, but also put our communities at risk,” the lawmakers wrote.
Under the Biden administration, agreements requiring countries to accept deported citizens have lapsed. As a result, deportation processes have stalled, contributing to a surge of over one million Venezuelan illegal border crossings and increased criminal activity tied to TdA.
In response to growing TdA threats, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott designated the gang a Foreign Terrorist Organization and launched statewide operations to target its members. Missouri lawmakers are now urging the Biden administration to take similar actions, demanding answers about the Clinton County incident and the administration’s plans to address Venezuela’s noncooperation.
The delegation, which includes U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt and several U.S. House members, also inquired about the number of TdA members currently in the U.S. illegally who have not been deported and the administration’s strategy to mitigate these risks.
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to prioritize the removal of violent criminals, including TdA members, through a new deportation initiative led by former ICE Director Tom Homan. Trump’s administration has promised aggressive action against criminal organizations threatening U.S. communities.
