The situation at the southern border remains chaotic and deeply concerning. In March, a large group of illegal immigrants stormed the border at El Paso, Texas, overwhelming law enforcement and crossing into the U.S. in a dramatic and violent rush.
On Monday, new and troubling details emerged: more than 100 suspected members of the Tren de Aragua (TdA), a violent Venezuelan prison gang, were among those who crossed the border that day.
Governor Greg Abbott of Texas confirmed this development as he announced a plan to address the growing presence of the gang within the U.S.
“Earlier this year, more than 100 suspected TdA members were arrested after the riots at the El Paso border, when immigrants assaulted the Texas National Guard,” Abbott revealed.
He has since declared TdA a foreign terrorist organization, vowing to crack down on its activities and prevent its expansion in Texas.
The March border incident, documented by The Post, saw hundreds of migrants break through razor wire and push past state troops, violently entering the U.S.
This event highlights the broader challenge facing Texas and the nation as the Biden-Harris administration struggles to control the border crisis.
Governor Abbott, however, is not waiting for federal action. He is pushing forward with his own plan, which is likely to face opposition from the administration in Washington.
Abbott’s proposal includes mandatory 10-year prison sentences for anyone caught smuggling TdA gang members into Texas, creating a database to track the gang’s movements, and increasing law enforcement resources to target the organization.
“Our goal among law enforcement in the state of Texas is to defend our state from the growing threat of TdA. We are not going to allow them to use Texas as a base of operations to terrorize our citizens,” Abbott declared.
However, the aftermath of the March invasion reveals an even more alarming reality. Following the violent clashes, a judge dismissed charges against 211 of the migrants involved in the riot.
Worse still, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released dozens of these individuals into the U.S. instead of deporting them. This decision has allowed TdA members to establish footholds across the country.
Reports indicate that the gang has taken over apartments in Colorado, seized hotels near El Paso, and even been linked to shootings of police officers in New York.
The dismissal of charges against individuals who took part in a violent breach of the U.S. border is both inexplicable and unacceptable.
These individuals assaulted law enforcement officers, damaged federal property, and illegally entered the country.
Deportation should have been the bare minimum response, and in a more just system, these individuals would face serious legal consequences, including prison time.
Instead, due to a lack of enforcement and weak federal immigration policies, over 100 dangerous gang members are now roaming free within the United States, posing a significant threat to public safety.
Governor Abbott’s efforts to address this growing crisis reflect a dire need for stronger border security and more decisive action at the federal level. Without it, the situation will only continue to deteriorate.
