Wagner Joins Missouri Republican Colleagues in Questioning Biden on Releases of Tren de Aragua Gang Members

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02), joined by Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Representatives Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03), Sam Graves (MO-06), Jason Smith (MO-08), Mark Alford (MO-04), and Eric Burlison (MO-07), wrote to President Joe Biden today demanding answers regarding reports that local law enforcement have been instructed to release illegal immigrant gang members from Venezuela back into the community.

"We write to you today to express our deep and growing concern regarding your administration's refusal to hold Venezuela accountable for unacceptable delays in the removal process for illegal immigrants. These delays, sometimes indefinite, not only give the appearance that a foreign nation is being allowed to dictate the enforcement of U.S. immigration law, but also put our communities at risk," the letter states.

On October 25, 2024, local law enforcement in Clinton County conducted a traffic stop and briefly detained two Venezuelan nationals that were identified by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) as members of the dangerous Tren de Aragua gang.

Despite this, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel reportedly contacted local law enforcement in Missouri and advised them to release these known gang members due to Venezuela's refusal to cooperate on deportation cases.

The members continued, "…Despite identifying Tren de Aragua as a "deadly criminal threat," your Administration reportedly directed local law enforcement in Missouri to release a known member of this organization due to Venezuela's refusal to cooperate on deportation cases."

The letter concludes by urging the Biden Administration to resume the Remain in Mexico policy "to ensure that dangerous gang members are not paroled into our communities."

Read the full letter here.