A WordPress Blog-THE CHURCH MILITANT Ephesians 5:11-"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them". This Christian News Blog maintains a one stop resource of current news and reports of its own related to church, moral, spiritual, and related political issues, plus articles, and postings from other online discernment ministries, and media which share the aims to obey the biblical commands to shed light on and refute error, heresy, apostasy, cults, and spiritual abuse. ALL CONTENT FROM HTTPS://RATHEREXPOSETHEM.BLOGSPOT.COM MOVED TO THIS NEW BLOG, MAY 2020
DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin discusses the charges against an illegal immigrant suspected of murder, a report that more migrants are open to self-deportation, and takeaways from Sec. Noem's visit to Latin America.
(L-R) In this handout photo provided by the Salvadoran government, inmates allegedly linked to criminal organizations knee on the ground at CECOT on March 16, 2025 in Tecoluca, El Salvador. (Salvadoran Government via Getty Images) / (Center) Circuit Judge Patricia Millett. (Photo via: American Law Institute)
OAN Staff Blake Wolf 4:33 PM – Monday, March 24, 2025
A Barack Obama-appointed federal judge slammed President Donald Trump, claiming that the United States treated Nazis better during World War II than the Trump administration has treated Venezuelan gang members.
In 2013, Obama nominated Patricia Millett to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Judge Millett’s comments were in reference to the over 200 Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang members who were deported last week — which was carried out through the Alien Enemies Act.
“Tren de Aragua (TdA) is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization with thousands of members, many of whom have unlawfully infiltrated the United States and are conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States. TdA operates in conjunction with Cártel de los Soles, a Nicolas Maduro regime-sponsored, narco-terrorism enterprise based in Venezuela, and commits brutal crimes, including murders, kidnappings, extortions, and human, drug, and weapons trafficking,” the White House stated.
The judge explained her thoughts on the matter.
“There were plane loads of people. There were no procedures in place to notify people,” Millett asserted, grilling a Justice Department lawyer over the deportation of illegal immigrants.
“Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemy Act than has happened here,” she continued. “There’s no regulations, and nothing was adopted by the agency officials that were administering this. People weren’t given notice. They weren’t told where they were going. They were given those people on those planes on that Saturday and had no opportunity to file habeas or any type of action to challenge their removal.”
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign responded soon after, stating, “Well, Your Honor, we certainly dispute the Nazi ideology,” pointing out that some of the individuals were able to file habeas petitions.
A habeas petition is a legal filing individuals can make to challenge the legality of their detention — where a court will determine if their detainment was justified under the law.
District Judge James Boasberg, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, also temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s ability to deport illegals from the country under the Alien Enemies Act on March 15th.
Boasberg also denied the federal government’s request to lift the temporary hold on deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, claiming that the deported individuals are up against a “likelihood of potential torture.”
“In Salvadoran prisons, deportees are reportedly ‘highly likely to face immediate and intentional life-threatening harm at the hands of state actors,’” he wrote. “As the government itself concedes, the awesome power granted by the Act may be brought to bear only on those who are, in fact, ‘alien enemies.’”
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has requested the appeals court to intervene and are expected to issue a decision in the coming days.
Millett continued, explaining to Ensign that she “feels like there was no time” for the individuals to challenge the detentions, and “were only able to [file] because the district court froze things.”
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A gang of New York thieves was recently apprehended after robbing multiple gas stations in a row, revealing a troubling pattern of crime slowly surging under the radar of law enforcement.
New reports reveal members of the notorious tren de aragua are repeatedly trying to breach the U.S. border… before the next presidential administration begins.
Homeland Security just tracked a group of TDA gang members to an NYC apartment and made a huge arrest... is this a sign of things to come under the new federal administration, or will sanctuary cities resist a national effort aimed at removing criminals from america's streets.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., breaks down the latest news from the southern border and weighs in FEMA’s response to the U.S.’s recent natural disasters.
Store owners in NYC are losing their businesses, but when they controversially take matters into their own hands to protect their stores, our justice system doesn't work the way they expect...
A new crime spree involving a gang with ties to NYC's asylum crisis has taken police and the city of New York by surprise... and it's happening in Times Square.
During a campaign event in Colorado, US presidential candidate Donald Trump unveiled bold plans to expel illegal immigrants involved in criminal gangs, with a specific focus on the Venezuelan gang “Tren de Aragua,” which he claims is terrorizing multiple US cities. Normally, Aurora, a suburb of Denver, is quiet, but recent months have seen the city, like many others throughout America, plagued by intense gang violence linked to “Tren de Aragua.” This once peaceful town of 390,000 residents now faces a violent crime wave as the transnational criminal organization from Venezuela has infiltrated and seized control of several apartment complexes, overwhelming the community.
Below it is “members of the Tren de Aragua gang have overtaken an apartment building in Aurora, Colorado, charging rent in exchange for protection.”
BREAKING: Armed gangs of illegals have taken over buildings in Aurora, Colorado. This is the border czar’s fault, when will she take responsibility? pic.twitter.com/5naPkMaEog
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) August 29, 2024The following picture is from New York City. Tren de Aragua members, some as young as 11, have been terrorizing Times Square.
Trump, during his visit to Aurora this weekend, promised decisive action to address the situation, starting with a tough stance on asylum seekers. If re-elected, Trump vows to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which grants the president power to arrest or deport citizens from hostile countries in times of war. According to Trump, this rarely used law will be key to dismantling the criminal networks created by illegal immigrants, particularly those responsible for gang violence.
The former president emphasized that restoring safety in places like Colorado is paramount. “Colorado will be safe again, and we will do it quickly,” Trump stated. He slammed the Biden administration, particularly Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing her of failing miserably as the so-called “border czar.” Trump charged Harris with opening the floodgates to criminal elements from across the globe. “Kamala has brought an army of foreign criminals into this country and placed them in your communities, where they harm innocent Americans,” Trump declared. The former president’s remarks hit on a key theme for his campaign: the existential threat illegal immigration poses to American sovereignty and safety.
Video of the entire event:
A Deliberate Strategy to Destabilize
Trump’s comments go beyond just pointing fingers at the current administration’s failures; they highlight what many conservatives see as a deliberate effort to destabilize America. Much like how Russia and Islamic regimes are using mass migration to destabilize Europe, Trump warned that the same playbook is being used against the U.S. “The open borders are not an accident. They’re part of a plan to weaken this country,” Trump said, likening the Biden administration’s policies to those of authoritarian regimes that exploit migration for political gain.
Kamala Harris, in her role as border czar, has not only failed to address the crisis but, as Trump argues, is complicit in its escalation. Her policies have allowed dangerous gangs like Tren de Aragua to establish themselves in U.S. cities, threatening the lives of Americans. Trump’s criticism of Harris is in line with his broader indictment of left-wing leaders who he believes are complicit in the deterioration of national security by supporting open-border policies.
Tough Measures and Deportations
To combat the rising violence and the illegal immigrant criminal networks, Trump proposed concrete measures if he is re-elected. He announced the formation of elite federal units comprising agents from ICE, Border Patrol, and other federal agencies tasked exclusively with identifying and deporting criminal gang members among illegal immigrants. “We’re going to go after them until there’s not one left in this country,” Trump assured his supporters.
Trump has also floated the idea of imposing harsh penalties on deported immigrants who attempt to re-enter the United States. Specifically, he proposed a 10-year prison sentence without the possibility of parole for any individual who returns illegally after deportation. His tough stance seeks to instill fear in potential offenders and reaffirm his administration’s commitment to strict immigration enforcement.
Stronger Penalties for Violent Crimes
In his speech, Trump made it clear that his policies would be particularly severe for migrants who commit serious crimes in the United States. He called for the death penalty for any immigrant who kills an American citizen or law enforcement officer. This hardline stance on violent crimes committed by migrants was met with enthusiastic support from his audience. Trump’s unwavering focus on safety resonated deeply with those who fear the impact of criminal immigrants.
Trump’s vision for America’s future also aligns with the broader global movement of conservative leaders like Viktor Orbán in Hungary, Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, the AfD party in Germany, and the Vox party in Spain—leaders who have committed to defending their borders and standing firm against illegal immigration. These leaders, like Trump, recognize that unchecked migration threatens national sovereignty, security, and stability. While the left, including communist figures like Kamala Harris, pushes for open borders, it is the pro-border conservative leaders who offer hope.
The Urgency of Strong Leadership
As Trump campaigns for the presidency once more, his message of law and order has never been more relevant. The situation in Aurora is a terrifying reminder of what’s at stake. Without decisive action, America risks falling victim to the same fate as Europe, where countries like Germany, Sweden, and France are struggling to cope with massive waves of illegal migrants destabilizing their societies.
Trump’s proposed policies are a direct answer to this global crisis. The measures he laid out—mass deportations, tougher penalties, and elite enforcement units—are all designed to prevent the U.S. from becoming yet another victim of failed left-wing immigration policies. For Trump, the stakes couldn’t be higher. “We either protect our borders, or we lose our country,” Trump concluded, stressing the upcoming election as a battle for the very soul of America.
Community leaders in a working class NYC neighborhood are demanding that army national guard troops be deployed to clean up their streets, which are overrun by what critics say is gang related criminal activity, which threatens the lives of locals and law abiding asylum seekers alike. Are troops an over reaction to a problem the city can solve on its own, or is an elevated response involving the army appropriate?
Recent reports indicate that gang-related crime is up in 8 states, one of which is New Jersey, which just so happens to be next door to America's largest sanctuary city, New York. Over the last year, NYC has seen high numbers of asylum seekers arrive, however not all of those who claim to be seeking asylum are... instead a small number of people have come here looking for something else.
Former New York Governor David Paterson was assailed by a gang outside a Manhattan McDonald's. While the former Gov is OK and arrests are being made, many New Yorkers wonder if street safety in our city is trending in a positive direction...
A dangerous gang has infiltrated NYC's controversial shelter for asylum seekers at randall's island, making it their secret base of operations in the city. Not only does this troubling event spell disaster for the many law abiding asylum seekers in NY, it also might mean our crime stats continue trending in the wrong direction...
Four heavily armed gangsters formed a skirmish line of sorts outside of a nightclub in Birmingham, Alabama’s popular entertainment district known as Five Points South Saturday night around 11 p.m., and then sprayed a large crowd with their illegally converted fully automatic 9mm handguns.
Four people were killed and 17 were wounded – at least four critically. Police later found more than 100 shell casings on the blood-drenched sidewalk.
Investigators determined it was a “targeted hit.” The shooters were after a specific person. The 20 innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire were not even a consideration. The gangsters, who police say were likely paid for the assassination, have not been caught.
This is not Birmingham’s only brush with extreme gang violence. In July, four people were shot and murdered and 10 were wounded in a shooting outside another nightclub. In February, four people were murdered while standing outside of a library.
Officials have offered a $100,000 reward for information about Saturday night’s shooting. Alabama lawmakers even sponsored a bill that would outlaw conversion switches, which turn a legal semi-automatic pistol into a machinegun, even though the switches are already heavily regulated under federal law – possession is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison.
One frustrated Birmingham Police officer told CNN the killings “have more to do with culture than they do criminality. We’re seeing far too many arguments being settled by bullets.”
Biden’s nonresponse
The Biden-Harris administration weaponized the ATF soon after taking office, but rather than siccing ATF agents on inner city gang members who are responsible for the majority of the shootings and murders in the country, the ATF was ordered to target law-abiding gun dealers and gun owners instead, most often for simple clerical errors or some minor violation of ATF’s everchanging rules.
Joe Biden has issued more than 40 anti-gun executive orders since becoming president, but not a single one does anything to yank guns from the hands of criminal street gang members.
The ATF claims it’s a participant in Project Safe Neighborhoods, a federal program designed “to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.” However, most of the ATF’s investigations occur after-the-fact, after local law enforcement officers who are not afraid to confront armed gangsters make an arrest and discover an illegal conversion switch or some other violation of federal law.
To be clear, most of ATF’s highly touted arrests take place within the comfy confines of their field offices, not on the streets where it matters – where they should be deployed. After all, possession of stolen firearms, conversion switches and possession by a convicted felon are federal crimes and ATF’s responsibility.
Not Crips or Bloods
Rather than attacking gang violence head-on, the Biden-Harris administration cannot even say gang violence. They talk about groups of youths or at-risk teens. They demonize the gangsters’ tools but never the gangsters themselves. To do otherwise would be racist, they mistakenly believe. However, forcing law-abiding residents of the cities impacted by gang violence to live trapped in their homes by crime is about as racist as it can get. This type of attitude is mimicked by the corporate media, who ignore the problem because they don’t want to offend anyone by citing an arrestee’s race or gang affiliation.
Today’s gangsters are not the Bloods and Crips or Folk and People law enforcement encountered during the 1980s and 1990s. While a few still claim some type of traditional gang affiliation, most are drug crews who are drawn together solely to make money rather than out of allegiance to a specific gang.
These crews are primarily armed with handguns, not the “assault weapons” the Biden-Harris administration would have you believe. They acquire their illegal handguns the old-fashioned way – either by stealing them or buying them from other criminals. The gangsters aren’t purchasing them at local gun shops, so cracking down on local gun dealers is a waste of resources, which would be better spent cracking down on actual gang members.
Add weak-willed, George Soros-funded prosecutors to mix – who are responsible for the catch-and-release seen in most major cities – and a revolving door of criminals and skyrocketing crime rates follow.
Why this matters
Gang violence impacts all of us. During prohibition, it led to the National Firearms Act of 1934 and its inane $200 stamps.
Gang interdiction is not rocket science, but it requires the type of leadership we have not seen at the federal level for quite some time. There are strategies that have proven effective, including RICO Act prosecutions, sentence enhancements for documented gang membership and mandatory minimums, such as Florida’s 10-20-Life law.
Every so-called gang expert will say we can never arrest our way out of the problem, which is partially true. Gangs are a community problem, and any solution must involve the community. However, before they can marshal community resources – such as families, educators and clergy – the killings must stop or at least slow down. This is where the federal government with its nearly unlimited resources could play a significant role, if gang interdiction ever becomes a federal priority.
Nowadays, while the Biden-Harris administration does not recognize gangs or gangsters, they’re quick to cite their bloody handiwork as one of the reasons for their constant infringements of our civil rights. In other words, the Biden-Harris administration uses gang violence as an excuse to crack down on legal gun ownership by law-abiding Americans.
This has happened before.
“To ban guns because criminals use them is to tell the law abiding that their rights and liberties depend not on their own conduct, but on the conduct of the guilty and the lawless.” Lysander Spooner said that, an American abolitionist and essayist. Spooner died in 1887, but his words still ring true.
The next administration must target gang violence. It must become a federal law enforcement priority. It’s time to stop ignoring the killings.
This story is presented by the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project and wouldn’t be possible without you. Please click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support more pro-gun stories like this.
About Lee Williams
Lee Williams, who is also known as “The Gun Writer,” is the chief editor of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project. Until recently, he was also an editor for a daily newspaper in Florida. Before becoming an editor, Lee was an investigative reporter at newspapers in three states and a U.S. Territory. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a police officer. Before becoming a cop, Lee served in the Army. He’s earned more than a dozen national journalism awards as a reporter, and three medals of valor as a cop. Lee is an avid tactical shooter.
Although the vast majority of asylum seekers have come to NYC to pursue the American dream, recent high profile crimes have been committed by criminals possibly linked to gangs that have infiltrated our shelter system. Complicating matters is NYC's status as a sanctuary city, with what critics say are soft on criminal laws that allow dangerous criminals to be released and not held in jail, regardless of where they're from...
NYC Starts Paying Migrants $4,000 Each... To Leave
NYC has a controversial new plan to help families move out of its shelter system, and it involves paying $4000 of their moving related expenses. Although the program isn't yet open to single adult asylum seekers, it is also limited to only families who have federal work permission... the very thing many economists said people needed to leave the shelters on their own, which isn't happening as fast as NYC would like.
NYC Just Evicted 40,000 Migrant Families…
NYC just decided to evict every family living in its shelter system. The shelters are at capacity, and the city claims evictions must happen to make room for new arrivals, who will also be evicted after their shelter stay expires...
NYC Destroys Park… Moves in Homeless People
NYC has plans to replace a community garden with an affordable housing complex, with 40% of the units going to homeless individuals. Although most new yorkers want to help the homeless, there are always protests and lawsuits whenever the city tries to follow through on that desire... and this time, it's happening in one of New York's most expensive neighborhoods.
Squatters Break Into NYC Mansion… Refuse To Leave
Squatting in NYC just got worse... and properties from apartments to houses are being taken over by those who refuse to pay for them, even after a recent law meant to stop squatters was passed just last month.
Dallas Police have confirmed the presence of the Venezuelan prison gang, Tren de Aragua, in North Dallas. The notorious gang has spread across the U.S., particularly in sanctuary cities, with activities reportedly linked to human trafficking and violent crime. A viral video has recently surfaced, but police clarified that the footage, despite claims, is from an isolated, year-old incident. The rise of Tren de Aragua in the U.S. highlights the broader issue of unvetted migration, exacerbated by current border policies. Critics argue that the Biden-Harris administration's failure to secure the southern border has allowed dangerous criminal elements to establish operations in American cities, including Dallas. The spread of such violent gangs directly correlates to weak immigration enforcement, putting public safety at risk. Conservatives are calling for stricter border policies to prevent further gang infiltration.
I’m not going to allow my state to be taken over by Venezuelan gangs.
I’ll continue to be on the front lines of this fight with the people on the ground until these illegal gang members are removed!https://t.co/GFdqeLCto7
Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03) and her Colorado colleagues sounded the alarm on escalating violence attributed to the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang, a Venezuelan criminal organization, in Aurora, Colorado.
Boebert hosted a listening session to spotlight the breakdown of law and order caused by unchecked immigration and insufficient action by law enforcement.
Aurora Residents Confirm Venezuelan Gang Violence 09-2024
The roundtable, attended by residents and local leaders, revealed firsthand accounts of gang violence, the failure of sanctuary policies, and the impact of open borders on the community.
Boebert condemned the lack of attention from media and political figures, stating, “The fake news and liberal politicians with an agenda continue to downplay the violence and Venezuelan gang activity in Colorado.”
She accused officials of covering up the violence to maintain their narrative of open borders and sanctuary city policies. She emphasized that elected officials should unite to round up and deport these gang members and protect Coloradans from what she termed a “takeover” of local communities.
Testimonies from residents painted a grim picture of the situation in Aurora. Cindy Romero, a former resident of the Edge at Lowry apartment complex, described the terror of living in a gang-controlled building.
“I have cameras picking them up, moving the guns… I caught a screenshot of them holding a family on my floor by gunpoint,” she recalled. Romero explained that despite numerous calls to law enforcement, little action was taken. “I’ve got bullet holes in my car… I had to leave because I am not bulletproof.”
Aurora resident and small business owner Chet Ellefson likened the conditions to those of a “Third World country,” with doors kicking in and rampant lawlessness.
“There is no fear when it comes to the police,” Ellefson said, describing how even law enforcement hesitates to respond to calls in the area.
Adding to the chorus of concerns, Aurora Council Member Danielle Jurinsky revealed that nonprofits, funded by state and Denver resources, have been placing migrants into unsafe living conditions in Aurora without adequate oversight. “No housing quality inspections were conducted… It’s primed for takeover,” Jurinsky noted.
I'm happy to see the @AuroraPD finally start to tell the truth and make arrests! Aurora citizens deserve to feel safe! https://t.co/oWv70P08Iw
The event highlighted the inadequacy of current immigration policies. Former ICE Director Tom Homan blamed the Biden administration for releasing millions of immigrants into the U.S. without proper vetting, noting that “98% of the people being released [have] no data on them.”
He further criticized sanctuary cities for providing safe havens for criminals. Homan’s sentiments were echoed by other speakers, including former ICE Field Office Director John Fabbricatore, who pointed to the high recidivism rate among criminal aliens.
The roundtable also underscored the strained relationship between law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. State Senator Mark Baisley and State Representative Ron Weinberg are pushing to overturn laws that prevent local police from cooperating with ICE, arguing that the current restrictions allow violent criminals to remain in the country unchecked.
I just came from Aurora, CO. We’ve seen the reports of small towns across America getting overwhelmed – now another example of dangerous Tren de Aragua related Venezuelans harming people across America. https://t.co/EXBjF1wzg0
As the crime wave grows, Aurora residents, law enforcement, and officials face increasing challenges. With tens of thousands of illegal immigrants entering the local Colorado region and local police stretched thin, the impact of this gang violence continues to ripple throughout the community. The testimonies offered during the roundtable are a stark reminder of the consequences of uncontrolled immigration, inadequate law enforcement response in sanctuary cities, and the complete and total failure of the Harris-Biden Administration to protect U.S. sovereignty and citizens.
In a shocking exposé that's sending shockwaves across the nation, Gary Franchi of Next News Network's RAW FEED brings you the unvarnished truth about the migrant crisis tearing apart America's cities. From Aurora, Colorado, to the heart of New York City, Venezuelan gangs are turning apartment complexes into fortresses of fear, and local authorities seem powerless – or unwilling – to stop it. Franchi doesn't just report the news; he takes you into the eye of the storm. Hear the terrified voices of mothers too scared to take their children to the park. Witness the chilling warning from a Chicago resident to Venezuelan gangs, promising a level of violence that makes Colorado look tame in comparison. But it gets worse. RAW FEED exposes the dirty secrets of sanctuary cities, where police officers admit on camera to releasing double homicide suspects back onto the streets. It's a policy of madness that's turning our urban centers into war zones, and Franchi has the footage to prove it. The invasion isn't just in our neighborhoods – it's targeting our children. Franchi reveals the horrifying moment 20 migrants attempted to board a school bus full of kids in San Diego. It's a parent's worst nightmare, and it's happening right here in America. As if that weren't enough, RAW FEED uncovers the staggering statistics in New York City, where migrants now make up 75% of arrests in Midtown Manhattan. It's a crisis of epic proportions, and Franchi asks the questions no one else dares to: Is this the end of urban America as we know it? But Franchi doesn't stop at exposing the problem. He delves into the root causes, pointing fingers at the policies of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden that have left our borders wide open and our cities vulnerable. It's a scathing indictment of an administration that seems more concerned with appeasing foreign nationals than protecting American citizens. This isn't just another news story – it's a wake-up call. Franchi connects the dots between open borders, sanctuary city policies, and the rapid deterioration of America's urban landscape. He warns that what's happening in Aurora and Chicago today could be coming to your city tomorrow. From gasoline black markets running out of apartments to gang graffiti marking territory in American neighborhoods, RAW FEED brings you stories the mainstream media is too afraid to touch. Franchi doesn't just read the news; he analyzes it, breaking down the implications for every American citizen. This RAW FEED segment is more than just reporting – it's a call to action. As our cities descend into chaos, Franchi demands accountability from our leaders and asks the crucial question: How much worse does it have to get before we secure our borders? Don't miss this explosive RAW FEED segment that will change the way you look at America's cities. Franchi delivers the truth, unfiltered and unapologetic. This is the story the establishment doesn't want you to see, but RAW FEED is bringing it straight to you. URGENT: The safety of our communities is at stake and we need your help to keep shining a light on these critical issues. Your support enables us to continue our in-depth investigations and bring you the truth that mainstream media ignores. Every donation, no matter how small, helps us combat the spread of misinformation and hold our leaders accountable. Don't let our cities fall into chaos. Stand with us in the fight for safe communities and secure borders.
A recently arrested gang member has told city officials that criminals are smuggling weapons inside NYC's shelters for asylum seekers, putting law abiding families in danger not only in those very same shelters, but on the city's very streets as well...
10 members of the "10z" street gang in southern Minneapolis have been charged with crimes including illegal firearm possession and drug trafficking as part of a broader crackdown that began with charges against 45 gang members back in 2023.
Former New York City Police Department Commissioner Ray Kelly, the department’s longest-serving commissioner, cautioned on Sunday that New York City’s quality of life “has really deteriorated.” Migrant crime is a major reason.
Venezuela’s notorious Tren de Aragua gang and El Salvador’s feared MS-13 — what former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker calls “prison-spawned gangs” — are threatening to take over American cities. They bring “mindless knuckle-dragging violence,” warns Swecker. They’re the “most dangerous gangs on the planet.”
Swecker speculates that countries are emptying their prisons deliberately. Gang leaders setting up crime rings in the U.S. “come out of the muck and the slime of the South American prisons.”
While law enforcement officials here are warning us about the collapse of public safety, left-wing pols deny there’s a problem. Ana Maria Archila, co-director of New York’s Working Families Party, calls the “chaos and insecurity” people are feeling a “false sense.” She blames it on racism and xenophobia, not reality. Open your eyes, Ms. Archila.
Public safety is visibly spiraling downward: migrants beating cops in Times Square; migrants running prostitution rings; migrants on mopeds robbing pedestrians; migrants shoplifting and stripping retail stores; and now a migrant who recently left New York has been arrested for killing a Georgia nursing student, Laken Riley. Not everyone violating the border is a hardened criminal, but President Joe Biden’s open borders are allowing the worst to get in.
When Mayor Eric Adams was asked on Feb. 20 about stabbing incidents and violence against cops at the Randall’s Island shelter, Adams said that “even the most peaceful person — being confined to an area with 3,000 people … there comes a time where it just irritates you.”
“Irritates”? Adams is downplaying a serious threat.
New York’s misguided “sanctuary city” policy makes the danger worse. If a migrant is arrested in New York, the NYPD is barred from communicating with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement to determine whether the migrant should be deported, jailed or allowed back on the street. On Monday, Adams stated clearly that sanctuary status must be changed so migrants who commit felonies can be picked up by ICE and deported. He’s said it before. Now it needs to happen.
Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, entered the U.S. from Venezuela illegally in September 2022, was granted “parole” under Biden’s policy and came to New York on a bus. While here, he was arrested once but not detained. Now he’s charged with murdering Riley, who was out jogging on the University of Georgia’s Athens campus.
Swecker suggests that “this man did not burst spontaneously into a criminal overnight. This is someone who has committed crimes before.”
After moving to Athens, Georgia, Ibarra was arrested three times, including for shoplifting. But Athens is also a sanctuary city, and he was always released.
On Saturday at CPAC, Donald Trump likened “migrant crime” to the deeds of fictional killer Hannibal Lecter, who eats victims. Not such a stretch in Ibarra’s case, considering he’s charged with “murder with malice” for bludgeoning Riley’s body until it was disfigured.
The vicious gang MS-13 is resurging and may join forces with Tren de Aragua. In 2017, an MS-13 gang hacked and beheaded four Long Island teens, using machetes, knives and a chisel. Gruesome.
The Left denies migrant crime is a problem. The public knows better. A new Pew Research Center report says 57% of Americans believe the huge influx of migrants is leading to more crime.
On Saturday, Adams stood in Times Square, boasting that it’s safe. But saying it doesn’t make it so. Just two days earlier, a teenager visiting the “Crossroads of the World” for the first time was knifed by a gang of masked attackers, including several migrants. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital with a collapsed lung.
Migrant gangs pose the biggest danger, but pervasive sex trafficking is also a scourge. Watch at about 6 p.m. each day as women exit shelters and get picked up in cars, leaving their kids behind for the night. It’s happening in all five boroughs, according to Homeland Security Investigations Deputy Agent in Charge Darren McCormack.
Are neighbors who criticize what’s happening xenophobic and racist? No. They just want a decent life, and they see it disappearing fast.
Betsy McCaughey is a former lieutenant governor of New York and chairman of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths.
