A recent report reveals how fake news and misleading information are being used to attack Venezuelan migrants in the United States. Former US President Donald Trump used an old law called the Alien Enemies Act to target migrants linked to a Venezuelan gang called Tren de Aragua (TDA). This law hasn’t been used since World War II.
The gang, which has already been dismantled in Venezuela, is being falsely connected to crime in the US. Some US officials and media outlets have tried to compare TDA to dangerous Mexican drug cartels. However, there is no clear proof of these claims.
One of the biggest lies used to target migrants is related to tattoos. An ICE document called the “Alien Enemy Validation Guidance” says migrants can be labeled as gang members based on tattoos or clothing styles. For example, anyone wearing a Chicago Bulls jersey or having certain tattoos can be marked as dangerous—even without evidence.
Some of the images shared in the media, like tattoos of rifles and slogans, were later found to be taken from random websites and had no real connection to Venezuelan gangs. This was pointed out by researchers who found the same images online, completely unrelated to any migrants or criminal groups.
US intelligence agencies also released a report saying that the Venezuelan government did not control the TDA gang. This goes against Trump’s claims that Venezuela sent gang members to the US.
Trump has made many false statements about immigration. For example, he said the number of people crossing the border recently was the lowest ever, even though the numbers are higher than they were decades ago. He also claimed millions of criminals came into the country under President Biden, but official data does not support this.
Experts say that Trump and his allies are using the immigration issue to push fear and gain support. These fake stories help justify harsh immigration policies and promote lies about people from Venezuela.
The TDA gang was taken down in 2023 by the Venezuelan government. Many of its leaders were caught, and others are still being tracked by Interpol. The government has been working since 2011 to reform its prison system and improve security.
Despite these facts, Trump and some US politicians continue to say that Venezuela is sending criminals to the US. These claims are not backed by any solid proof. Instead, they seem to be part of a bigger plan to pressure Venezuela politically.
The goal of spreading this kind of fake news is to make people fear migrants and support actions that hurt Venezuela. By spreading lies, it becomes easier to push for stronger border controls and possible interference in other countries’ affairs.