Venezuelan citizens and violent Tren de Aragua (TDA) gang suspects have been accused by federal prosecutors of owning firearms as illegal aliens. According to the US Lawyer's Office for the Southern District of Florida, the suspect entered the US in Texas using the Biden administration's currently disabled CBP-one smartphone asylum application for the Southern District of Florida.
Luis Ernesto Veliz Riera, 23, entered the entrance to El Paso, Texas, in the same way that the Biden administration allowed 1,450 “asylum seekers” daily using the CBP-One application. Belize Riera told authorities upon entry that he would travel to Las Vegas, according to unsealed criminal charges. Therefore, the CBP has presented Veliz-Riera with a notice of appearance at the hearing before an immigration judge in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to the affidavit, Veliz-Ruiz skipped the immigration hearing and stayed in El Paso, waiting for his girlfriend (Venezuelan citizen) to illegally cross from Mexico to the United States on April 30, 2023.
Veliz-Ruiz and his girlfriend traveled to several cities in the United States, including Chicago and New York City, and ultimately Homestead, Florida. In October 2024, local law enforcement authorities at Homestead stopped the vehicle being driven by the Belisriella. Authorities say the stop was conducted in connection with an investigation into potential Tren de Aragua activities.
During the suspension and subsequent investigation, law enforcement officials found that Veliz-Riera was being sought on a state crime warrant in which he was illegally in the country. Further investigations showed that despite his illegal status, Veliz Ruiz maintained a Taurus PT609 Pro 9mm semi-automatic handgun with 30 rounds of magazines in a homestead hotel room that he shared with his girlfriend, and that he loaded the gun earlier that day.
On November 16, 2024, Veliz-Riera entered immigrant detention based on his illegal status. His TDA gang status was suspected and despite the nature of his possession of a firearm, he was released to the community for electronic surveillance by the Biden administration.
On February 3, 2025, the Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Project (ICE-ERO) managed to arrest Veliz-Riera to reconsider its decision to release him from immigration detention.
On February 14, 2025, federal prosecutors indicted Veliz-Riera on one count of possessing a firearm as an illegal foreigner. Veliz-Riera will remain in the Prison Custody Office, where trials are pending, according to US lawyers for the Southern District of Florida.
Hayden P. Ovillund, the Southern District of Florida, and special agent for Jose R. Figueroa, Homeland Security Investigation, Miami Field Office; announcement Veliz-Riera Criminal Case.
Randy Clark He is a 32-year veteran of the US Border Patrol. Before retiring, he served as Chief of Law Enforcement Business and oversaw the operations of nine Border Patrol Bureaus in Del Rio, Texas. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @randyclarkbbtx.
