Tren de Aragua Border Security Threat Assessment Act

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, conducting an assessment is an obvious and important first step in addressing any homeland security threat we face. This bill smartly and correctly requires a homeland security border threat assessment on Tren de Aragua followed by the creation of a strategic plan based on this assessment.

Unfortunately, this bill seems to be a little too late. The administration is already bombing boats in the Caribbean that they claim to be Tren de Aragua. I hope they have already done an assessment and have a plan. They certainly have not shared anything with Congress to that effect.

Mr. Speaker, it is very important for Congress to understand the threat that is leading to this administration's actions and that justifies this administration's actions. We have simply not been given enough information about the Trump administration's assessments, justification, and strategy for blowing up numerous boats off the coast of Venezuela. Members of Congress must have this information, and that is why I support this bill.

To be clear, we should have had this information long before the administration started bombing boats that they could have chosen to interdict or stop in other ways. This bill should not be necessary, but I do thank my friend from North Carolina for introducing it and recognizing that we should have a basic understanding of any organization that we are going to take military action against.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I support Members of Congress receiving more information about the Trump administration's strategy against Tren de Aragua.

Therefore, I support this piece of legislation and urge its immediate passage. It is long overdue for the Trump administration to share the information it has with Congress that justifies its military action against alleged Tren de Aragua members.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4070) to require a homeland security border threat assessment on Tren de Aragua and associated strategic plan, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4070.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4070, the Tren de Aragua Border Security Threat Assessment Act.

Tren de Aragua, a gang formed in a Venezuelan prison, has expanded its reach throughout the United States. Designated by the Trump administration as a foreign terrorist organization, Tren de Aragua members have been responsible for kidnapping and extorting businesses throughout the United States.

This legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a border threat assessment on Tren de Aragua and develop a strategic plan to counter the threats identified in the assessment.

I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill, and I am grateful to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Knott) for bringing forth this important piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Knott).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4070. This legislation is an important first step in combating an FTO, foreign terrorist organization, that has embedded itself in our community. We see firsthand stories of the violent crimes that these organizations are associated with: robbery, kidnapping, assault, and murder.

I thank Mr. Knott for introducing this legislation. I wholeheartedly support this legislation. I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to please support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to speak in favor of H.R. 4070, the Tren de Aragua Border Security Threat Assessment Act.

I thank Chairman Guest and Chairman Garbarino for their support and leadership on the Homeland Security Committee from which this bill has originated.

Before Congress, I had the privilege to work in law enforcement. I saw firsthand the horrible effects, the dangerous effects, and the lasting effects that weak borders have had on our wonderful country. Of course, there are pressures on housing, healthcare, and education wherever there are millions and millions of illegal aliens allowed to come into the country and then placed throughout our country.

Of equal, if not greater, concern to me is the rampant growth and the effects of transnational criminal organizations that have grown throughout our country. This is perhaps best seen with Tren de Aragua.

Tren de Aragua has grown its presence throughout the United States. It is growing every day and includes growth in my home State of North Carolina. My legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a comprehensive border threat assessment to identify the criminal threats posed by TdA members, the threats that are posed to our communities, and how exactly they are so successful in growing in our communities.

With this information, law enforcement and their intelligence counterparts will be better able to deploy a unified and focused strategy on how to appropriately dismantle and remove these threats from our country.

It is past time that we return to a posture of strength to defend America and our citizens. We must clearly and effectively send a message that the

United States will no longer be a safe harbor for violent foreign terrorist organizations like Tren de Aragua.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.