El senador republicano Marco Rubio ha enviado una carta al fiscal general de Estados Unidos, Merrick Garland, expresando su profunda preocupación por la expansión del grupo criminal venezolano Tren de Aragua en territorio estadounidense. Rubio urgió al Departamento de Justicia (DOJ) a investigar el rápido crecimiento de esta organización criminal, designada como Organización Criminal Transnacional (TCO) por el gobierno de Estados Unidos en julio de 2024.
En la carta, Rubio destacó el impacto devastador que las actividades violentas del Tren de Aragua están teniendo en diversas comunidades del país. El grupo, conocido por su implicación en tráfico de personas, drogas y otros delitos, ha logrado expandirse más allá de la frontera, afectando a estados y localidades que antes no enfrentaban estos problemas.
Rubio criticó la gestión de la administración de Biden y Harris, señalando que las políticas migratorias débiles han permitido la entrada de más de 8.5 millones de migrantes ilegales, lo que ha facilitado el control de rutas y la explotación de migrantes por parte de organizaciones criminales como el Tren de Aragua. «Con nuestras comunidades cayendo bajo el control de organizaciones criminales venezolanas, el presidente y el poder ejecutivo están fallando en su responsabilidad de proteger a este país», escribió Rubio.
El senador también pidió respuestas claras al DOJ sobre las acciones concretas que se están tomando para frenar la influencia de esta organización criminal en el país, cuestionando si se está coordinando con otras agencias gubernamentales, como el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional, para evitar que miembros del Tren de Aragua obtengan visas o sean admitidos en Estados Unidos.
La carta de Rubio refleja una creciente preocupación en el Congreso sobre la seguridad nacional y los efectos de las organizaciones criminales extranjeras en las comunidades estadounidenses, particularmente a medida que los esfuerzos para combatir al Tren de Aragua parecen haber llegado demasiado tarde para prevenir su expansión en territorio estadounidense.
A continuación publicamos el texto íntegro en su idioma original:
Dear Attorney General Garland:
We are extremely concerned with recent reports that U.S.-designated transnational criminal organization (TCO), Tren de Aragua, is expanding its presence within the United States. Given the damaging consequences of their violent crimes on the American people, we write to urge the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate Tren de Aragua’s rapid expansion to various states and localities. After urging President Biden to designate Tren de Aragua as a TCO in March 2024, we welcomed the Treasury Department’s decision to sanction Tren de Aragua as a TCO in July 2024. However, recent reports reveal a disturbing trend across the United States.
From day one of this administration, President Biden and Vice President Harris have made disgraceful decisions that have directly contributed to more than 8.5 million illegal aliens crossing the border. Not only has this crisis caused significant burdens for states as resources are stretched to the limit to accommodate illegal aliens, but it also undercuts the stability and security of our local communities. Tren de Aragua engages in particularly vicious activity in victimizing populations and maintaining sources of income, such as sex and migrant trafficking and the distribution of illegal drugs.
The administration’s weak enforcement of immigration laws allows gangs, like Tren de Aragua, to control routes and exploit migrants en route to the border. After my Republican colleagues and I stressed the heinous and bold crimes committed by Tren de Aragua in American cities, the administration finally designated and sanctioned Tren de Aragua as a TCO.
Nevertheless, it appears these efforts occurred too late to prevent the current tragedy that is unfolding across our country – even in communities far from the border. When President Biden took the oath of office, he swore to not only faithfully execute the Office of the President, but to also “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.” Implicit in this oath is the understanding that the President will defend this country and to execute its laws. With our communities falling prey to Venezuelan and other criminal organizations – who not only willfully violate the laws of the land, but also now threaten American citizens – the President and the executive branch are failing in its responsibilities laid out in the Constitution.
As such, we urge the DOJ to investigate Tren de Aragua’s presence across the country. We also request answers to the following questions:
What cities or locations, across the United States, is the DOJ is concerned about the presence or influence of Tren de Aragua?
Since the designation of Tren de Aragua as a TCO, has the DOJ allocated resources or assistance to local law enforcement anywhere in the country?
Moving forward, what additional steps will DOJ take to counter the continued infiltration and activities of Tren de Aragua across the country?
Is the DOJ coordinating with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of State about known Tren de Aragua members and networks in the U.S., and overseas, in order to prevent such members from obtaining visas to the United States or being granted parole at a U.S. port of entry?
Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Marco Rubio.