America’s enemies don’t always show their hand. Instead they do things under wraps.
But now the FBI uncovered a foreign plot to secretly invade the United States.
U.S. Grapples with Tren de Aragua’s Threat Amid Intelligence Disputes
The FBI has raised alarms over potential ties between Venezuelan government officials and the Tren de Aragua gang, suggesting that these officials “likely facilitate” the gang’s migration to the U.S. to undermine public safety, according to a recent report.
This development has sparked a heated debate about the extent of Venezuela’s influence and the gang’s operations within American borders.
Trump Administration Targets Gang as Foreign Terrorist Threat
Designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration, Tren de Aragua is accused of extending its destabilizing activities beyond Venezuela to countries like Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and now the U.S.
The FBI’s assessment warns, “The FBI assesses that in the next six to 18 months, Venezuelan government officials likely will attempt to leverage Tren de Aragua members in the United States as proxy actors to threaten, abduct and k*ll members of the Venezuelan diaspora in the United States who are vocal critics of [Venezuela President Nicolás] Maduro and his regime.”
A Trump administration official, speaking anonymously to Fox News Digital, emphasized the severity of the situation:
“These findings should shock Americans but not the law enforcement community. They reflect the sentiments of numerous other intelligence assessments across multiple agencies. Nicholas Maduro is a Marxist dictator who hijacked a once-prosperous Venezuela and brought in nothing but total economic collapse and gang takeover.”
“He crumbled Caracas, now overrun with drugs and violence, and wants to do the same across the United States by sending his most violent and dangerous criminals into our communities.”
The official vowed, “The Trump administration will continue to use every authority in our power to make sure these TdA terrorists, who are some of the worst in the world, are kept out of our country. The American people voted overwhelmingly to make America safe again, and that is exactly what we will do.”
Intelligence Conflicts and Accusations of Politicization
Contrasting the Trump administration’s stance, a U.S. intelligence assessment reported by the Associated Press on April 18 found no coordination between Tren de Aragua and the Venezuelan government.
This classified report from the National Intelligence Council, described as more comprehensive than earlier findings, challenges the administration’s justification for invoking the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard responded sharply on X, stating, “The weaponization of intelligence to undermine the President’s agenda is an assault on democracy. Those behind this illegal leak of classified intelligence, twisted and manipulated to convey the exact opposite finding, will be held accountable under the full force of the law.”
“Rooting out this politicization of intelligence is exactly what President Trump campaigned on and what Americans overwhelmingly voted for.”
“The Office of the Director of National Intelligence fully supports the assessment that the foreign terrorist organization, Tren De Aragua, is acting with the support of the Maduro Regime, and thus subject to arrest, detention and removal as alien enemies of the United States.”
An official from the DNI’s office further claimed that Fox News Digital’s reporting relied on intelligence omitted by “illegal leakers and propaganda media” to push a “biased narrative and attempt to deceive the American people.” As tensions rise, the conflicting intelligence reports highlight a struggle over national security policy and the politicization of information.
