Well, isn’t this just the kind of news that makes you shake your head? The Tren de Aragua gang, a criminal organization straight out of Venezuela, has now extended its reach to 17 U.S. states, including, of all places, North Dakota. That’s right—North Dakota, the land of sprawling plains, oil rigs, and communities where folks still leave their doors unlocked, is now dealing with an international crime syndicate. How did we get here? Two words: open borders.
Let’s start with the facts. Police in West Fargo, North Dakota, recently arrested a man named Henry Theis for a seemingly routine traffic violation. But surprise, surprise—this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill speeding ticket. Inside Theis’s vehicle, officers discovered over $24,000 in stolen cash and equipment used for ATM heists. Turns out, Theis is linked to Tren de Aragua, a gang that’s been wreaking havoc across Latin America and has now decided to make itself at home in the United States.
This arrest is alarming for a couple of reasons. First, it highlights just how far-reaching this gang has become. Tren de Aragua started as a small-time extortion racket in Venezuela but has since evolved into a multinational criminal enterprise involved in everything from human trafficking to drug smuggling. And now, they’re here, setting up shop in our backyard. Second, it underscores the complete and utter failure of the Biden administration’s border policies. Because let’s be honest: you don’t end up with Venezuelan gang members in North Dakota without some serious lapses in border security.
For years, we were told that open borders were a humanitarian necessity, a moral imperative. But what about the communities that bear the brunt of the fallout? What about the small towns and rural areas now forced to deal with crimes they’ve never encountered before? West Fargo isn’t Los Angeles or Chicago. It’s a quiet, tight-knit community where law enforcement isn’t exactly equipped to handle international criminal organizations. Yet, here we are.
The media, of course, is downplaying this story. They’ll frame it as an isolated incident, a one-off case that doesn’t reflect any broader trends. But let’s not kid ourselves. This is part of a larger pattern. Criminal organizations thrive in environments where the rule of law is weak, and thanks to Biden’s policies, that’s exactly what we have. When you allow millions of people to cross the border without proper vetting, you’re not just inviting families seeking a better life—you’re also rolling out the welcome mat for gangs, cartels, and other bad actors.
And let’s talk about the impact. It’s not just about stolen cash and ATM heists. It’s about the ripple effects on communities. When gangs like Tren de Aragua move in, they bring violence, corruption, and fear. They exploit vulnerable populations, target small businesses, and drain local resources. And who pays the price? Everyday Americans. The hardworking families who just want to live in peace and security are the ones left picking up the tab for Washington’s incompetence.
What’s infuriating is that this was entirely preventable. Strong border policies, rigorous enforcement, and a commitment to putting American citizens first could have stopped this before it started. But instead, we have an administration more concerned with appeasing activists than protecting its own people. And now, North Dakota—a state that should be as far removed from international crime as you can get—is dealing with the fallout.
So, what’s the solution? For starters, we need leaders who take border security seriously. That means funding law enforcement, cracking down on illegal immigration, and holding accountable the policymakers who’ve let this happen. It also means acknowledging the problem for what it is: a direct result of failed leadership at the highest levels.
North Dakota didn’t ask for this, and neither did the other 16 states now grappling with Tren de Aragua’s presence. But unless we take action, this will only get worse. Because when you ignore the rule of law, you don’t get compassion—you get chaos. And the people of West Fargo deserve better than that. We all do.
