(DailyChive.com) – A former FBI agent, Dan Brunner, claims the number of Venezuelan gang members in the U.S. is much higher than reported. He believes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is underestimating the issue, and he’s urging authorities to confront the gang head-on within American borders.
The gang in question, Tren de Aragua, reportedly slipped into the U.S. after DHS mistakenly approved refugee applications for some of its members. According to an internal email from Kevin Grigsby, head of refugee operations at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), gang members were granted refugee status before another agency noticed their tattoos, which hinted at criminal ties.
“We failed to identify the tattoos during screening,” Grigsby admitted in the email, adding that the gang members were only stopped from entering the U.S. after the mistake was discovered.
Videos circulating on social media show young people linked to Tren de Aragua committing robberies near Times Square and staying at shelters like the Roosevelt Hotel in New York. States such as Texas, New York, and Colorado are seeing a rise in crimes connected to the gang, which first emerged from Venezuela’s notorious Tocoron prison. Over the years, the gang has expanded its reach to multiple countries, including the U.S. Resettlement efforts have faced significant challenges due to concerns like these.
DHS recently announced that more than 600 migrants with possible ties to the gang have been identified through a rescreening process. However, the agency said not all of them are active members — some could be victims, witnesses, or even family members. DHS has confirmed it is not recommending placing over 100 of these individuals on the FBI’s watchlist, a decision raising concerns about public safety.
A DHS spokesperson stressed that the agency’s efforts include both re-evaluating past cases and toughening border screenings. Individuals confirmed as gang members will either face prosecution or be deported through an expedited process.
The issue has become a flashpoint in the presidential race, with former President Donald Trump recently vowing to dismantle all illegal criminal networks operating within the U.S. if re-elected. He promised to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target these groups directly. The administration’s handling of these cases has been heavily scrutinized.
With the southern border already under strain, the spread of gangs like Tren de Aragua has sparked new debates about immigration policy and national security.
