Cape News

U.S. Representative Jason Smith and other Missouri congressional members have expressed concern over reports that local law enforcement has been instructed to release illegal immigrant gang members into the community. In a letter to the Biden administration, Smith, along with U.S. Representatives Sam Graves, Mark Alford, Eric Burlison, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Ann Wagner, and U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, demanded answers regarding these allegations.

"President Biden’s open-border agenda is threatening the safety of communities across Missouri," stated Smith. He highlighted several incidents involving violence by individuals who are in the country illegally and criticized the administration's reported instructions to release dangerous criminals back into Missouri communities. "Missouri families are sick and tired of fearing for their safety because of Biden’s dangerous immigration agenda," he added.

The issue came to light following an incident on October 25, 2024, when local law enforcement in Clinton County detained two Venezuelan nationals identified as members of the Tren de Aragua gang during a traffic stop. Despite their identification as gang members by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reportedly advised local authorities to release them due to Venezuela's lack of cooperation on deportation cases.