Santee, California At City Hall near the base of the hills surrounding the border town of Santee, California, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) led a field hearing for the House Judiciary Committee to discuss the impact of the immigration crisis in California, where many non-Central Americans are in the U.S. illegally.
California escaped record numbers of illegal border crossings at the start of the Biden-Harris administration, but over time, people from countries like China have reportedly begun taking advantage of the country's open borders. Now, years after the crisis began, international gangs that were unknown in the U.S. before 2021 have established bases in several cities across the country.
Riverside County Deputy Sheriff Don Sharp testified that even though his county is not on the border like San Diego County, it has been busy cracking down on human and drug trafficking that has slipped through the Border Patrol's radar.
“We're trying to stop these people … to get ahead of them.”
“In Riverside County alone, our narcotics task force seized 359 pounds of fentanyl and more than 2.3 million fentanyl pills in 2023. … What did we miss? We know there's a lot we missed,” Sharp lamented, noting that his agents respond to fentanyl overdose cases on a daily basis.
Sharp is Border Patrol agents are no longer able to process and monitor illegal immigrants who turn themselves in, allowing drug smuggling and human trafficking to flourish.
Sharp told The Blaze News that the threat from gangs like Tren de Aragua is real and should be taken “very seriously.” Venezuelan gangs have been in the national headlines again in recent days after they terrorized apartment residents in Aurora, Colorado.
“These groups basically establish their base, like they're doing with apartment complexes, and then they get a location where they can use people as victims and then they start to control that area. … We're trying to stop these people … to preempt them before they get to these locations across the country,” Sharp said.
“Several committees in Congress are looking at ways to repair the damage. In the case of Venezuela, it's virtually impossible to get Venezuela's cooperation. But all of these individuals currently operating in the United States came through Mexico. We can get Mexico to stop them. We can even deport back to Mexico those who were unfairly allowed through Mexico,” Issa explained.
The incursion of South American gangs into Colorado, Illinois, Florida and other areas has put police on high alert, but in Aurora local authorities have downplayed the threat.
2023 Colorado Governor Jared Polis (Democrat) Praised The Biden-Harris administration has expanded protections for Venezuelans seeking a better life in the United States, contributing to the economy and helping fill much-needed jobs.
“They have been involved in numerous crimes across the country, including theft, robbery, assault, sexual offences, extortion and murder. [Tren de Aragua] While they account for a small percentage of violent crimes, the fact remains that crimes against the general public should be zero, as the gang has not been able to expand its presence in the United States as a result of its capture. [and] “The policy is to release him,” said Lt. Chris Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety. said About X.
“One victim is one too many. The loss of one life at the hands of this criminal organisation is unacceptable.”
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censorship and sign up for our newsletter to receive stories like this directly to your inbox. Register here!
