Washington, D.C. (October 3, 2024) – In the latest episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, the growing threat of transnational criminal organizations, how we got here, and potential solutions to address the issue. Guest host Jon Feere, the Center’s Director of Investigation and former Chief of Staff of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is joined by retired U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Denver Field Office Director John Fabbricatore who shares insights from his new book De-Iced: America in the Era of Open Borders and Unchecked Immigration.
Fabbricatore focuses on the Venezuelan transnational criminal organization “Tren de Aragua,” which has quickly established itself in the U.S., particularly in cities like Chicago and New York, and even in smaller cities like Aurora, Colorado. He explains how the gang, involved in human trafficking and drug smuggling, has been expanding rapidly since first arriving in the country in 2023.
Drawing on decades of experience in immigration enforcement, Fabbricatore shares personal stories from his career, including the challenges of deporting criminals and the complexities of international law enforcement. He stresses the need for a stronger commitment to enforcing immigration laws to ensure public safety and national security.
Key Points:
- Tren de Aragua has already established a foothold in the U.S., with an estimated 5,000 members. He warns that unless there is swift action, the gang’s influence will only continue to grow.
- The challenges posed by sanctuary city policies hamper ICE’s ability to tackle gang violence and organized crime: "Sanctuary policies protect criminals, not citizens."
- Fabbricatore criticizes the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of immigration, particularly the abuse of parole programs, which he claims has overwhelmed the system. "Our system cannot handle the flood of illegal immigrants. The chaos being created now will eventually result in a push for amnesty."
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