"An unverified rumor that Venezuelan gang members were preparing to kill police officers spread like wildfire through US law enforcement agencies last year, internal records reveal, only for federal officials to later quietly acknowledge the claim was mistaken. The intelligence report, which appears to have first been disseminated by a local New Mexico police department in July 2024, suggested that the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang had directed its members to fire on or attack law enforcement."
"There has been no public acknowledgement of misstatements. The documents were uncovered by Property of the People, a government transparency non-profit, which has made records requests related to US authorities' discussions of TdA and shared files with the Guardian. The records, TdA experts said, suggested that a wide range of powerful law enforcement agencies lacked a basic understanding about the gang and its operations."
A July 2024 intelligence report from a local New Mexico police department claimed Tren de Aragua (TdA) directed members to attack U.S. law enforcement. The claim rapidly spread through multiple law enforcement agencies, appeared in a Texas gubernatorial proclamation, and was cited by Republican lawmakers as evidence of threats posed by Venezuelan immigrants and border policies. Internal FBI reporting later determined the claim was inaccurate, though no public correction has been issued. Documents obtained by a transparency nonprofit indicate widespread misunderstandings about TdA among U.S. authorities. Unsubstantiated TdA claims have influenced strikes, deportations, and immigration policy decisions.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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