North Miami-Dade News

U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio have taken a significant step in the fight against organized crime by leading their colleagues in requesting President Biden to designate the Tren de Aragua gang as a Transnational Criminal Organization. The gang, originating in Venezuelan prisons, has spread its criminal activities across the hemisphere, engaging in a wide range of illegal activities.

In their letter to President Biden, the lawmakers expressed their concerns about the brutal nature of the Tren de Aragua gang and the potential threat it poses if left unchecked. They highlighted the gang's involvement in murders, bribery schemes, drug-trafficking, kidnappings, extortions, arms trafficking, and money laundering. The lawmakers emphasized the need for immediate action to prevent the gang from unleashing further devastation in communities across Central and South America, as well as in the United States.

Representative Salazar, as Chairwoman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been a vocal advocate for combating gang violence and promoting economic security in the region. She has also been actively involved in denouncing the Venezuelan regime's collaboration with criminal elements to obstruct democratic processes in the country.

Joining Salazar and Rubio in their call for the designation of the Tren de Aragua gang were several other Senators and Representatives who are equally committed to addressing transnational criminal organizations and promoting regional security.

The initiative led by Salazar and Rubio underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating organized crime and safeguarding communities from the threats posed by criminal organizations like the Tren de Aragua gang.