Staff Reports
A recent surge of violence at the Texas border has prompted Texas Governor Greg Abbott to take a strong stand against the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang, declaring the group a terrorist organization. This declaration follows a chaotic event in March when over 100 TdA members participated in a riot that not only involved attacking the Texas National Guard but also underscored the dire situation along the southern border.
In response to this alarming escalation, Abbott has laid out a robust plan that includes imposing mandatory 10-year sentences for TdA members involved in human smuggling and creating a comprehensive database to track these criminal elements. The governor’s strategy aims to bolster state law enforcement’s ability to combat this transnational criminal organization effectively. He is committed to preventing the gang from establishing Texas as their local headquarters for terror against citizens.
🚨𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚:
Migrants Storm U.S. Border.
Illegal aliens charge at American troops guarding the El, Paso Texas border and overwhelm the first border defense razor wire shoving the guards out of their way and charging past them.
Source: NY Post pic.twitter.com/R01GBcyy5x
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) March 21, 2024
Amidst this crackdown, one can’t help but wonder why the ire is directed at the gang members instead of the individuals who opened the floodgates in the first place. Abbott’s frustration might be better focused on President Biden and Vice President Harris, whose policies have essentially invited chaos across the border. The reckless abandonment of security protocols has allowed millions into the country, and frankly, old-fashioned punishments like tarring and feathering might feel oddly appropriate when considering the state of border security today.
Adding insult to injury, after the March riots, a judge went ahead and dismissed charges against 211 migrants, allowing dozens to be released back into the community by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Meanwhile, these gang affiliates have reportedly established themselves in various parts of the country, taking over apartments in Colorado and hotels in Texas, not to mention creating a dangerous environment where law enforcement officers in places like New York have found themselves dodging bullets.
Even worse, the Biden-Harris administration’s failure to obtain criminal histories from Venezuela puts border states in an untenable position. This lack of due diligence makes it impossible to identify potentially dangerous illegal immigrants coming into the country. With this gang operating under the radar, they’re not sporting the tell-tale tattoos like MS-13 members, making it even trickier for federal agents to conduct thorough background checks. It seems that the honor system for vetting newcomers is about as effective as a screen door on a submarine.
As Abbott takes matters into his own hands, it’s clear that border states are left to fend for themselves against this rising tide of crime. His resolve to act decisively is commendable, but it raises questions about how far he can go with the courts still entangled in convoluted legalities. The reality is that the mess at the border is not simply a local problem; it is a national crisis, and it remains to be seen how much longer the friendly residents of Texas will tolerate being the frontline in a war against foreign criminals.
