@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
We have been reporting on #TrenDeAragua or #TdA since January when police reported that the gang was involved in the murder of a retired cop in south Florida—But people really started paying attention after the murder of Laken Riley—A 22 y/o Georgia nursing student killed by who police say is a Venezuelan illegal immigrant—His brother is a confirmed TdA member. Since then, there have been several incidents involving TdA—Most recently—Police in prairie du Chien, a small rural town in Wisconsin with a population of around 5400 people, are reporting that a 26 y/o Venezuelan national was arrested for physically/sexually assaulting a woman—A juvenile female was also injured in the altercation—PD confirmed the suspect has a known affiliation to TdA. In Texas— @DallasPD confirms to @NewsNation the presence of TdA saying quote, “We have had gang activity in the north Dallas area linked to the Tren de Aragua gang from Venezuela. Our department is collaborating with other agencies to address possible crimes linked to this and other gangs in our city...” This as @TxDPS at the border arrested a confirmed TdA member working as a human smuggling scout—The 24 y/o was wearing ICE tracking device when he was arrested during a traffic stop—Texas DPS reports the gang member was arrested a few days prior for another smuggling attempt and had just beenreleased by ICE. Late last month in Aurora, Colorado—Gang members were seen in a video walking freely around an apartment complex heavily armed with assault rifles—Banging on doors and entering units. Colorado has been disputing the claims that TdA gang members are “taking over apartment complexes” however they are not denying the presence of TdA—@AuroraPD just arrested four Venezuelan nationals at an apartment complex with confirmed ties to the gang. In the Denver area, an alleged TdA gang member was arrested in connection to a violent jewelry store heist in the city where they are seen pulling out guns and pistol whipping two women. In New York meanwhile NYPD’s deputy commissioner says they have opened a new international liaison post in Bogota to conduct fact finding missions surrounding the interworkings of TdA. An alert obtained through CBP sources showed “Tren De Aragua (TDA) criminal organization members in Denver were given a ‘green light’ to fire on or attack law enforcement in Denver—HSI New York reportedly received the same information. DHS says there are over 1,000 TdA members in the United States. There are currently around 5,000 active members across the world. @RepTonyGonzales has been sounding the alarm about the gang for months now and is working within the Appropriations Committee to establish task forces to combat the gang activity. One of the obstacles law enforcement are facing in some of these areas where the gang is present is sanctuary city laws, where ICE isn’t involved and local police don’t have access to immigration records—Another thing Rep. Gonzales is also working to change. DHS alerted agents on how to spot the Tren De Aragua gang members featuring common tattoos—From Michael Jordan to trains and guns. The agency also provided other identifying characteristics including that TdA members are typically 18-25 y/o males dressed in high-end urban street wear—They favor the Chicago Bulls basketball jersey, specifically Michael Jordan jerseys with the number "23", and Jordan footwear/sneakers—They often wear sports attire from U.S. professional sports teams with Venezuelan nationals on them. CBP reports it has encountered around 70 TdA members since October of 2023—TdA members are present in California, Illinois, Florida, New York, Nevada, Wisconsin, Colorado and Texas and that suspected TdA members may be involved in a variety of crimes to include kidnapping, human-trafficking, sex trafficking, organized retail crime, robberies, and document fraud. Our @NewsNation story: https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immigration/border-coverage/what-is-tren-de-aragua-gang/
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
NEW: DHS sources confirm that Abrego Garcia was stopped by Tennessee Highway Patrol back in November of 2022 for transporting 8 illegal immigrants from Houston to Maryland but wasn’t arrested or charged in this incident because everyone in the vehicle claimed to be going up there for work. DHS has maintained that Abrego Garcia was involved in human trafficking/smuggling.
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
NEW: While sitting with @POTUS —The President of El Salvador, @nayibbukele calls a reporter question about returning Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia “preposterous” saying, “I suppose you’re not suggesting I smuggle a terrorist into the United States right? How can I smuggle, how can I return him to the United States, can I smuggle him into the united States? Of course I’m not going to do it. The question is preposterous…” The Trump Administration maintains that Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13. President Bukele says he would release Abrego Garcia into El Salvador, but says “I’m not very fond of releasing terrorist into the country.”
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
Trump Homeland Security Advisor @StephenM says “no version of this legally ends up with him (Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia) ever living here because he is a citizen of El Salvador…” The White House maintains that Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13 which has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization—Miller says what happens next is up to @nayibbukele but even if Abrego Garcia was sent back to the U.S. “at the sole discretion of El Salvador” he would just be deported again.
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
TX: The Big Bend sector is seeing a spike in illegal crossings—A group of 19 illegal immigrants from Mexico and one woman from Cuba were busted yesterday in Terrell County while trying to evade law enforcement—The second “larger” group in as many days. @SheriffThad says they are seeing numbers pick up as it is extremely remote, saying the coyote/guides don’t use the same route twice and are even finding some of the technology and destroying it so they can’t be detected. So far this month, the sheriff says the Sanderson Border Patrol station alone has had: •64 apprehensions •14 outstanding (hit a cam but haven't been caught) •11 known gotaways All of March: •16 apprehensions •26 gotaways The sheriff says Sanderson Border Patrol Agents led the charge to interdict the group—The combined effort included: Alpine Air Unit, Alpine and Marfa Border Patrol, Texas Military Dept. and the Terrell County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Cleveland says he worries most about the “unknown” —Those who cross and are never detected and never caught.
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
Our @NewsNation story alongside colleague @JeffArnold_ @travyharrison https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immigration/illegal-crossings-remote-texas/
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
#BREAKING Two U.S. service members were killed, one is in serious condition after being involved in a vehicle accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. @USNorthernCmd confirms the members were deployed to the border in support of Joint Task Force Southern Border. The names of the deceased have not yet been released—The cause of the accident is under investigation.
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
Update: Sources confirm the members involved are Marines. Two passed away while being transported to the hospital—The third is in serious condition. The Marines were reportedly headed from Camp Pendelton to El Paso when the vehicle crashed. The incident is still being investigated.
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
DHS shares court documents showing Kilmar Abrego Garcia had a history of violence—According to court filings, a protective order was granted to Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez back in 2021—The document shows he “punched, scratched, bruised and ripped off shirt of petitioner.” “The court orders that the above named respondent SHALL NOT abuse, threaten to abuse, and/or harass the petitioner and others to be protected. That the above named respondent SHALL NOT contact the protected parties by any means.” His lawyers have not responded to a request for comment regarding the posting of the order— via @kevinbohn
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
NEW: Maryland Senator @ChrisVanHollen says his request made to the VP of El Salvador to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia was denied. The senator said he was told by the Vice President "you need to make earlier provisions to visit CECOT.” Van Hollen says he wasn’t able to meet with Abrego Garcia or have a phone conversation with him. The Vice President told him if the American Embassy were to ask "maybe that could happen." —Van Hollen says he will make the request to the embassy. The senator is now calling on @nayibbukele to let Abrego Garcia “walk out” of the prison and come back to the U.S. saying he was abducted. The Trump administration maintains that Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13. President Bukele says he is not going to release Abrego Garcia to smuggle him into the U.S.
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
The CIA has MQ-9 Reaper drones on covert ops hunting for the criminal cartels and their fentanyl labs—According to multiple reports. This as the stand down on Border Patrol body cameras was just lifted today following security concerns with the devices: https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immigration/border-coverage/border-patrol-agents-resume-body-cameras/ H/t @travyharrison for coming down to the border to work with me this week 🫡
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
#EXCLUSIVE Two American soldiers in less than two weeks busted for human smuggling in Kinney County, Texas. 23-year-old Branden Broadhead is an Army Reserves soldier and was arrested Saturday after he approached a pop up tactical Border Patrol checkpoint and turned around—He was attempting to smuggle 2 illegals immigrants from Mexico who claimed to be cousins. Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe says the cartels are going after everyone and are having success because they’re promising quick, easy money—Broadhead says he was promised $5k to transport the two individuals and because his mom was sick and not working, he said yes. Broadhead tells me he is willing to share his story in the hopes that it will prevent others from getting involved with these criminal organizations. The Army says in response to Broadhead’s arrest, “The Army Reserve is aware of the arrest and will continue to monitor the situation. The Army Reserve is committed to the fair treatment of all Soldiers and Civilians. Allegations of misconduct are taken very seriously and reviewed under applicable, controlling regulations. Soldiers are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.” Below is more of my conversation with Broadhead immediately following his arrest. Savion Johnson is with the Texas State Guard and was arrested nearly two weeks ago also in Kinney County at the same checkpoint.
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
#BREAKING Multiple DHS sources confirm the suspect in UGA student, Laken Riley’s murder—José Antonio Ibarra is here illegally from Venezuela. CBP documents show he crossed in September of 2022 into El Paso, Texas and was released due to lack of detention space. The 26 year old from Venezuela was arrested today by ICE-ERO Atlanta. He is being charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another— According to UGA Police Chief Jeffrey L. Clark. Officials say Riley went for a run on the University of Georgia's Athens campus yesterday and was later found dead.
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
#BREAKING DHS sources confirm that Jose Antonio Ibarra was arrested 5 months ago in New York. Records show he was arrested on 9/14/23 in Queens, NY for injury to child less than 17 and no license.
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
According to CBP documents obtained from sources—The sponsor address Jose Antonio Ibarra provided after crossing illegally in El Paso was The Covenant House in New York— Their website says they are a youth homeless shelter.
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
NEW: Jose Antonio Ibarra’s booking photo via the Clarke County Sheriff's Office. The other photo obtained from DHS sources is from when he crossed into El Paso, Texas illegally back in 2022. https://t.co/dAXUfrAKV6
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
Clarification: Red shirt is current booking photo.
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
NEW: Judge denies bond for UGA murder suspect José Antonio Ibarra in first court appearance—Ibarra’s public defenders requested he not be shown on camera in his jail clothing. The judge allowed video of judge/attorney only—According to the media outlet approved to film the hearing (pool camera).
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
NEW: CBP confirms what we have been reporting—That a record 302,034 migrants crossed the southern border last month alone: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters Nationwide there were 371,036 encounters (this includes the northern and coastal sectors): https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/nationwide-encounters
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
AZ: “If I pay $7,000 for America, it’s… I don’t care.” I talked extensively with 20-year-old “Os” (short for Osama) from Morocco who says because he paid money to get here, Americans can pay to help them. He tells me he was a streamer/gamer in his country and is hoping to drive Uber in New York where he says he has friends. He says he wants to pay into the system and work, despite not legally being able to do so—He and another guy from Morocco say they will “easily” find a way to make money here. He says he would rather kill himself than go back to Morocco because there was “no future” there—He and others also expressed their gratitude and love for @POTUS None of the individuals I spoke to from Africa knew about the CBP One App that allows migrants to sign up for “legal entry” through a port when they are in Central America and Mexico—Os allegedly traveled through both.
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
There are many other things I should/could have asked but something I really should have followed up on is if his family—Dad, mom and younger brother—Can stay in Morocco and don’t need to live in the U.S., why wasn’t he “safe” there?
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
AZ: Happening now, 8 men from Syria along with men from Senegal, Sudan and Chad just arrived here in Lukeville. Groups are showing up to the closed Lukeville Port of Entry and then being transported up here to the wall because Border Patrol is so overwhelmed they cannot process them all within the required time (72 hours—Here the goal is 36 hours according to sources due to a 2020 federal injunction) The individuals waiting at the wall are not yet in federal custody.
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
AZ: This is at the Ajo station in the Tucson Sector—And it’s happening daily according to sources. The majority of the families are from Ecuador—The single adults meanwhile are from Senegal, India, Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. @USBPChiefTCA says they saw a record 14,300+ migrants in a single week out there. Where these crossings are happening is EXTREMELY remote—It takes hours for round-trip transport and buses cannot get there because of the terrain. Some migrants were waiting in the desert building fires to stay warm because Border Patrol can’t take them into custody until they can transport them—Remember they only have 72 hours to process them out—So once they are received by agents, the clock starts. So their options according to sources, is just let them sit out there until they can get to them—Some waiting more than 48+ hours. This is done strategically by the cartels to tie up resources so they can push whatever they want through the unmanned border across the sector—Which is known for people trying to evade or “gotaways.” This is also the sector that regularly seizes the most fentanyl along the southern border—1.28M pills have already been seized at the Nogales Port of Entry since October 1st according to @CBPPortDirNOG. In FY23 more than 45.8M fentanyl pills were seized at that port of entry alone. 📸 via CBP sources
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
I finally got a chance to watch yesterday’s Senate Judiciary Hearing Committee hearing… “The last three years are the most amazing in revelations…”@SenatorDurbin breaks down the unaccompanied minor encounter numbers saying it’s going to be hard to keep up with the flow of people and “maintain quality of care for these kids…” Unaccompanied minors crossing into the U.S. are turned over to @HHSGov ORR who is asking Congress for $1.9B for expansion to include post-release services or legal services for all children in their care. This after the agency was not able to locate at least 85,000 unaccompanied minors after HHS/ORR placed them with a sponsor. There are currently more than 9k unaccompanied children in HHS/ORR custody right now according to the agency’s data. https://c-span.org/video/?531369-1/federal-officials-testify-unaccompanied-migrant-children-border… @JudiciaryDems @SenJudiciaryGOP https://judiciary.senate.gov/committee-activity/hearings/ensuring-the-safety-and-well-being-of-unaccompanied-children-part-ii
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
Seema Nanda is a Solicitor with the U.S. Labor Department and says child labor investigations have gone up 88% in the last year— Saying today the department has more than 800 open child labor cases nationwide. Earlier this year, an investigation by labor department found more than 100 children, many of them unaccompanied minors from Guatemala, were employed at a midwestern slaughterhouse: https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immigration/border-coverage/unaccompanied-migrant-children-labor-trafficking/
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
“There’s no mandatory FBI criminal background check system on those sponsors…” Senator @JohnCornyn grills @HHSGov ORR Director over the sponsor vetting process for unaccompanied minors—HSS ORR Director Dunn Marcos confirms that FBI background checks are not conducted for every sponsor. Director Dunn Marcos testified that home visits are also not required or carried out every time an unaccompanied child is placed with a sponsor. Sen. Cornyn argues the agency cannot guarantee these children aren’t being trafficked. Here are the numbers Sen. Cornyn is citing: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/grant-funding/unaccompanied-children-released-sponsors-state
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
“This is wrong…” Senator @MikeLeeforUtah asks @HHSGov ORR Director Dunn Marcos how many unaccompanied children the agency has tabs on or knows where their whereabouts… Director Dunn Marcos says if there are ever signs of trafficking with an unaccompanied child, a referral is made within 24 hours to agencies including Homeland Security Investigations. Sen. Lee is headed to the Rio Grande Valley tomorrow alongside @SenTedCruz @JohnCornyn @SenJohnBarrasso @PeteRicketts to tour the border.
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
NEW: @HomelandGOP demands documents from DHS after an internal memo was leaked alerting of possible “Foreign Fighters of Israel-Hamas Conflict May Potentially be Encountered at Southwest Border.” GOP lawmakers are giving DHS @SecMayorkas until 5pm November 1st to provide documents related to the document as well as the names of all DHS employees involved in drafting, reviewing, approving, or disseminating the October 20, 2023 document entitled “Foreign Fighters of Israel-Hamas Conflict May Potentially be Encountered at Southwest Border."
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
NEW: Record numbers at the border coming out on a Saturday morning 👀—As we have been reporting at @NewsNation — More than 269k migrants were encountered at the southern border in September — 218,763 of those were between the ports according to @CBP — That brings the total for FY23 to 2,475,669, an all time high. But when we consider the northern and coastal sectors as well, more than 341k people were encountered last month —The nationwide total encounters for FY23 to 3,201,144 compared to 2.7M for FY22. Updated CBP data: https://cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters
@AliBradleyTV - Ali Bradley
It is important to note that these numbers do not include the more than 670k “gotaways” recorded for FY23.