By Hank Russell
A bipartisan bill introduced and co-sponsored by two Long Island congressmen that would crack down on a violent Venezulean street gang has been passed unanimously by the Homeland Security Committee.
The Tren de Aragua Southwest Border Security Threat Assessment Act — introduced by Nick LaLota (R-Rocky Point) and co-sponsored Anthony D’Esposito (R-Garden City), along with Lou Correa (D-California) — would require the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the intelligence and relevant federal departments or agencies, to submit to Congress a southwest border threat assessment regarding Tren de Aragua (TdA). The assessment will include identifying current and potential criminal threats posed by TdA members and their affiliates looking to enter the U.S. illegally through the southwest border or take advantage of any security weaknesses along that part of the border.
Additionally, the Homeland Security secretary must provide information on the gang, including how they began, what are their aims, their methods of operation, how they are funded, their leadership structure, their growth and how they are making their presence felt in the U.S. The secretary must also submit a plan on how to crack down on TdA and other transnational criminal organizations.
According to the U.S. Treasury Department, TdA began as a prison gang in Aragua, Venezuela. They have quickly expanded throughout the Western Hemisphere. TdA takes part in numerous forms of criminal activity, such as human smuggling and trafficking, gender-based violence, money laundering and drug trafficking. On July 11, the agency sanctioned the gang as a transnational criminal organization. It is believed that TdA has up to 5,000 members.