WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Congressman Greg Lopez (CO-04) introduced the Detain and Deport Gang Members Act of 2024, to call on U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, to detain and deport all illegal aliens with known gang affiliations.
“The federal government has a responsibility to protect American citizens from international threats, including the spread of Tren de Aragua and other foreign gangs. It is unacceptable that the Biden-Haris Administration and liberal local leaders across this country have implemented America-last policies which allow violent foreign gangs to wreak havoc on our communities. The crime and chaos that originates in sanctuary cities inevitably spills into neighboring communities, as we are seeing happening today in Aurora, Colorado, ” said Rep. Greg Lopez.
“It is time for leaders of every level of government to eliminate the hotbeds of trafficking, fentanyl, and gang violence which exist in every sanctuary city. It is time to detain and deport illegal aliens with gang affiliations, not retain and support them. The American people deserve better than a government which prioritizes the comfort of illegal immigrants over the safety of its own people.”
Read the bill text HERE.
Background:
- In recent weeks, footage has been released of heavily armed members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, or “TdA”, operating in an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, a city partially within Rep. Greg Lopez’s congressional district. TdA’s invasion of Aurora has been highly covered by major media outlets and has become a major cause of fear and concern for the residents of Colorado’s 4th District.
- Aurora is not a sanctuary city and it does not provide free housing or aid for illegal immigrants. However, Aurora has been inundated with thousands of illegal immigrants, especially Venezuelans, as a byproduct of Denver, Colorado’s sanctuary city policies.
- The sheer volume of apprehensions at the border makes proper vetting impossible and thousands of gang members slip through the cracks. The Administration’s abuse of parole authority all but ensures that gang members will make their way into the country.
- Individuals allegedly belonging to the Venezuelan gang known as “Tren de Aragua” are suspected of taking over 4 apartment complexes in Aurora, Colorado. Tenants allege the group deals drugs, breaks into apartments, and “patrols” the complexes.
- TdA has an estimated 5,000 members globally and is linked to over 100 criminal cases in the United States. The gang was designated as a “transnational criminal organization” this past June, by the Biden administration.
- Other major Latin gangs with a presence in the U.S. include: MS-13 (6,000-10,000 in U.S), the 18th Street Gang (30,000-50,000 in US), and the Latin Kings (20,000-35,000 in the U.S.)
