In Texas, officials declared a Venezuelan gang a “foreign terrorist group” on Monday.
CBS News reports that the international criminal group known as Tren de Aragua has a presence in multiple Latin American countries where they engage in extortion, homicides and the smuggling of drugs and individuals.
The Texan officials’ classification of the gang comes after nearly half a million Venezuelans entered the US last year. By designating Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist group, Texas can now assemble a special task force to confront the gang.
The influx of immigrants in the past few years has ignited fears of bad actors running free in the US amid a rising crime rate, including isolated incidents of Latin American gang members murdering American citizens.
Former President Donald Trump said that if he is elected president, he will order large-scale deportations.