The Trinidad and Tobago government will adopt US anti-terrorism policies against the Venezuelan gang Tren De Aragua. Prime Minister Stuart Young announced plans to classify the gang as a terrorist organization despite no evidence of its operations within the country. The Prime Minister also denied rumors about registering Venezuelan migrants to vote, clarifying the humanitarian nature of the migrant registration program.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has committed to adopting the United States’ approach towards the Venezuelan gang, Tren De Aragua. Prime Minister Stuart Young made the announcement during a post-cabinet media conference, following his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The government aims to classify the gang as a terrorist organization, even in the absence of concrete evidence regarding its presence in Trinidad and Tobago.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Young conveyed his intention to the Secretary of State, requesting any available evidence to support their action against Tren De Aragua. He clarified that, despite the current lack of evidence against the gang, legal measures would be undertaken to formally identify it as a terrorist entity, which may involve court proceedings based on documented activities in Trinidad.
The Tren De Aragua gang has its roots in a notorious Venezuelan prison and has significantly expanded as a result of the massive exodus of Venezuelans fleeing the crisis under President Maduro’s regime. The gang has gained notoriety throughout the Americas, with previous declarations of it being a terrorist organization issued by former US President Donald Trump.
Recent actions by the US government included the deportation of over 200 Venezuelan migrants, alleged to be associated with Tren De Aragua. However, the evidence supporting these claims was not disclosed. Following their deportation, the migrants found themselves detained in an El Salvadorian prison, funded by the US government.
Additionally, at the press conference, Prime Minister Young addressed rumors regarding the register of Venezuelan migrants for voting in the upcoming general election. He firmly rejected the notion that Venezuelans were being registered to participate and called such claims false and misleading.
He elaborated on the government’s approach to Venezuelan migrants, which began in April 2019 as a humanitarian initiative, stating that registered migrants do not possess rights equating to residency. He assured the public that while the registration period would be evaluated and extended as needed, it would not influence residency applications. The process will still involve scrutiny by immigration authorities to determine the legitimacy of marriage for those seeking naturalization.
In summary, the Trinidad and Tobago government is taking a proactive stance against the Venezuelan gang Tren De Aragua, aligning with US terrorism policies despite a lack of evidence. The Prime Minister has emphasized the need for legal measures to preemptively categorize the gang as a terrorist organization. Furthermore, he refuted allegations regarding the registration of Venezuelan migrants to vote, reaffirming the government’s humanitarian and legal stance towards migrants, while maintaining the integrity of electoral processes.
Original Source: newsday.co.tt
