Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jason Smith (Mo.) and members of the Missouri congressional delegation sent a letter to the Biden administration demanding answers regarding reports that local law enforcement have been instructed to release illegal immigrant gang members from Venezuela back into the community. In addition to Smith, the letter was signed by U.S. Representatives Sam Graves, Mark Alford, Eric Burlison, Blaine Luetkemeyer, and Ann Wagner and U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt.

“President Biden’s open-border agenda is threatening the safety of communities across Missouri,” said Smith. “Whether it was St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Officer David Lee, 22-year-old Laken Riley, or 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, far too many innocent people have been murdered or violently attacked by dangerous people who are allowed to live in this country illegally. It’s unacceptable that the Biden administration is reportedly instructing local law enforcement in Missouri to release dangerous criminals – who never should have been in the country in the first place – into our communities. Missouri families are sick and tired of fearing for their safety because of Biden’s dangerous immigration agenda. I’m proud to stand with them in demanding answers about what – if anything – the administration is doing to get violent illegal immigrants off the streets.”

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.

Read the full letter here.