US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Representative Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) are reigniting a push to demand the ‘Tren de Aragua’ gang be designated as a transnational crime group.
Senator Rubio and Representative Salazar had previously requested such designation last March via letter to President Joe Biden.
Tren de Aragua is Venezuela’s largest gang with an estimated 5,000 members and has recently been linked to numerous criminal investigations in the US.
The gang has been reportedly infiltrating the US through the southern border and is now suspected of having participated in over 100 criminal actions within the US.
One such case included a shooting of New York Police officers on June 3rd by an alleged Tren de Aragua member.
The shooter was reportedly detained after crossing the border illegally but was subsequently released into the US to await his asylum claim resolution.
Salazar and Rubio have taken to social media to request their call to designate Tren de Aragua as a transnational crime organization be heeded following the increased US activity of the gang.
“Tren de Aragua is a vicious gang that the dictator Maduro is dumping into America through our open southern border,” said Salazar.
Tren de Aragua is a vicious gang that the dictator Maduro is dumping into America through our open southern border.@SenMarcoRubio & I requested that @POTUS designate the gang as a ‘Transnational Criminal Organization’ so law enforcement has the tools it needs to stop them ASAP! pic.twitter.com/vkSYokJm75
— Rep. María Elvira Salazar (@RepMariaSalazar) June 17, 2024
The letter antecedently sent to President Biden claims designating the gang as a transnational crime organization would provide law enforcement with the necessary tools to combat them.
“This designation is crucial to effectively mobilize national awareness as a result of this threat, as well as deploy necessary resources and sanctions that will help to curb the escalating crime and violence threatening communities across the United States,” reads the letter.
Biden has yet to respond to the lawmakers’ request.
