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This Sunday, September 18, Breitbart released an exclusive reporting that Venezuela’s socialist regime, led by dictator Nicolás Maduro, is emptying its prisons to send dangerous criminals across the border to the United States.
While Breitbart does not mention the details of how the Maduro regime allegedly operates to send Venezuelan convicts to the border, it does claim that an anonymous Customs and Border Protection (CBP) source saw a Department of Homeland Security (NHS) report received by the Border Patrol that “instructs agents to look for Venezuelan inmates released from entering the U.S.”
Breitbart’s source said that some released convicts are apparently convicted of murder, rape and extortion, although part of the article mentions that American authorities don’t have access to Venezuelan criminal records, and it is basically impossible to prove which of these alleged illegal immigrants have criminal records unless they themselves admit to their crimes.
“Unless we apprehend someone who voluntarily tells us they have committed a violent crime in Venezuela, we can only guess and that doesn’t work well,” the anonymous source commented to Breitbart. “They will more than likely be released.”
The CBP official also commented that this alleged strategy by the Maduro regime is reminiscent of a maneuver by the 1980s Castro dictatorship.
“The intelligence report warns agents the freed prisoners have been seen within migrant caravans traveling from Tapachula, Mexico toward the U.S.-Mexico border as recently as July,” Breitbart reads. “The source, not authorized to speak to the media, told Breitbart Texas the move is reminiscent of a similar action taken by Cuban dictator Fidel Castro during the Mariel boat lift in the 1980s.”
Breitbart explains that authorities have no knowledge of whether these criminals travel in groups, however, the source indicated that Venezuelan immigrants know that some of their fellow travelers who want to cross the border illegally are criminals, in a sort of open secret.
The report, which is not directly quoted, does not specify whether this release of criminals allegedly heading to the United States could be part of a geopolitical move to affect the country’s national security.
The news that the Maduro regime is releasing prisoners to go to the United States is of concern because there is already a history of released Venezuelan gangs wreaking havoc in South American countries, such as the case of the Tren de Aragua, a dangerous criminal gang of Venezuelan origin that “migrated” and now operates in countries in the region such as Peru, Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, and Ecuador.
Some geopolitical experts and even American politicians have commented on the matter.
For example, former American diplomat Alberto Miguel Fernandez, of Cuban origin, said on Twitter that the tactic reported by Breitbart “would be, precisely, a repeat by Venezuela of Fidel Castro’s cruel and sadistic tactic of 1980 in Mariel. Makes sense given the level of direct Cuban influence over the Maduro regime.”
This would be, precisely, a repeat by #Venezuela of Fidel Castro's cruel and sadistic tactic from 1980 in Mariel. Makes sense given the level of Cuban direct influence over the #Maduro regime.https://t.co/7mc5iBaSPb
— Alberto Miguel Fernandez (@AlbertoMiguelF5) September 18, 2022
Likewise, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX), commented on Twitter that DHS confirmed “Venezuela empties jails and sends violent criminals to our southern border.”
“President Trump warned us about this years ago,” added Nehls.
🚨BREAKING🚨
DHS confirms that Venezuela empties prisons and sends violent criminals to our southern border.
President Trump warned us about this years ago.
— Congressman Troy Nehls (@RepTroyNehls) September 18, 2022
Venezuelan migrants at the epicenter of Washington discussions
In recent days, Venezuelan immigrants have made national news, especially after the Republican governors of Florida and Texas, Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott, sent a handful of illegal migrants (mostly from this South American nation) to sanctuary cities such as the exclusive island of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts and Washington D. C., specifically to the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Reporter Jorge Ventura of the Daily Caller has also shown images of Venezuelans living on the streets in the border city of El Paso, Texas, as shelters have run out of space due to the increased migratory flow.
Shelters in El Paso don't have room to house migrants currently and many are sleeping on the streets. Lucas and Sebstian, 4 and 6 years old from Venezuela have spent the last 2 nights sleeping on the sidewalks here and tonight will be their 3rd @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/eSVnailtF6
— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) September 18, 2022
On September 14, Jorge Bonilla, director of MRC Latino, also shared a video where a Venezuelan immigrant can be seen explaining that migrant shelters are full of “criminals like me.”
I’ve come to the conclusion that the border is as secure as the administration wants it to be pic.twitter.com/lZjqgkxGGT
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) September 15, 2022
Venezuela is currently suffering a political, economic and social crisis unprecedented for the region, provoked by the socialist policies of the Chavista regime, which has led to a humanitarian crisis of politically displaced persons. Currently, there are an estimated 6.8 million Venezuelan migrants and refugees around the world. There is no other country that exceeds this figure.
Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón is a journalist at El American specializing in the areas of American politics and media analysis // Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón es periodista de El American especializado en las áreas de política americana y análisis de medios de comunicación.
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