Rep. Roy Praises Law Enforcement for Apprehending Tren de Aragua Gang Members in Hays County, Texas

Washington, D.C. — Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) released the statement below following yesterday’s announcement of local, state, and federal law enforcement arresting over 40 individuals with ties to Tren de Aragua in Hays County, located in Texas 21st Congressional District:

Congressman Roy said:  “The Biden Administration’s open-border policies, led by impeached former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, brought a historic number of criminal aliens and dangerous actors into our communities.  Texans – including those in TX21 – have suffered as a direct result, from dozens of fentanyl related deaths to human trafficking, and now an enormous gang operation.  The Venezuela-based prison gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) - among the worst groups that have infiltrated the nation - was operating right in the heart of suburban Austin in Hays County, Texas, where I call home.

I commend the Hays County Sheriff's Office, the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD), the Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for apprehending these foreign gang members from our streets. The people of Texas' 21 Congressional district – and the nation – are safer thanks to the teamwork of these agencies.

While South American gangs engage in murder, extortion, human trafficking, and terrorism - activist judges and radical progressive Democrats continue to impede the President and Republican leaders from removing these criminals from the United States.  There should be unanimity of purpose among all our nation’s leaders to bolster enforcement efforts against all illegal aliens, criminal gangs, and cartels until every last member is incarcerated and deported.  I look forward to working with my colleagues and members of law enforcement to ensure this happens, as well as working to codify the Trump Administration’s efforts to label these evil actors as the rightful terrorists they are – legislation I first introduced in in 2019."