Suffolk Reporter

Reps. Nick LaLota, Anthony D’Esposito, and Lou Correa have announced that their bipartisan legislation, the Tren de Aragua Southwest Border Security Threat Assessment Act, has passed unanimously in the Homeland Security Committee. The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct a threat assessment on criminal activities by members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) attempting to enter the United States illegally. It also mandates DHS to develop a strategic plan to address these threats.

LaLota stated, “I am proud to announce that my bipartisan legislation to combat the dangerous Tren de Aragua gang has passed the House Committee on Homeland Security. This criminal organization, which has been called 'MS-13 on steroids,' poses a direct threat to our communities as they exploit weaknesses at our Southwest border.”

D’Esposito expressed his support for the legislation: “I’m proud to stand with my good friend and Long Island’s own Rep. Nick LaLota in advancing his legislation... Americans have a right to know exactly how dangerous and pervasive emerging threats like Tren De Aragua are.”

Correa emphasized community safety: “Orange County families, and every family across the country, deserve to feel safe and secure in the neighborhoods they call home—and we’re working to make sure criminal syndicates like Tren de Aragua that terrorize families and small businesses on Main Street get taken down.”

The Tren de Aragua is described as an extremely violent transnational criminal organization originating from Venezuela. Recent reports indicate its involvement in illegal activities such as sex trafficking, human smuggling, drug dealing, thefts from department stores, ride-by robberies on scooters, and armed robberies within New York City.

Law enforcement agencies are actively addressing these issues while recognizing the gang's use of migrant shelters for recruitment and operations.