America First Legal (AFL), a nonprofit organization known for its legal challenges to government policies, has launched a series of investigations targeting the Biden-Harris administration over what it calls “growing violent illegal alien gang activity” across parts of Colorado and the Midwest. These investigations are in response to a wave of criminal activity attributed to the Venezuelan-based gang Tren de Aragua, whose influence has been spreading into American communities. The AFL's investigations focus on several federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the FBI. The nonprofit has filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests dating back to January 21, 2021, the day President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took office, in a bid to uncover more details about the administration's handling of border security and illegal immigration, which AFL claims are directly responsible for the rise in gang activity. Gene Hamilton, Executive Director of America First Legal, didn’t mince words in the group's release, blaming the administration’s immigration policies for allowing violent foreign gangs to thrive in the U.S. "The Biden-Harris administration’s deliberate decision to open our borders to the world is what allowed for violent Venezuelan gangs to run rampant in American communities," said Hamilton. He emphasized that the crimes committed by these gangs, including human trafficking and drug trafficking, could have been prevented with stronger border control measures. The Tren de Aragua, a notorious prison gang based in Venezuela, has an estimated 5,000 members and has been linked to various forms of criminal activity, including drug and human trafficking. The recent arrest of 10 gang members in Aurora, Colorado, brought the issue to the forefront after surveillance footage of a gang-occupied apartment building went viral. Among the individuals arrested, two were released despite ICE detention requests, prompting further outcry over the administration's handling of immigration enforcement. In addition to Aurora, AFL's investigations also focus on regions in Illinois and Wisconsin, where Tren de Aragua's presence has been detected. For example, in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, 26-year-old Alejandro Jose Coronel Zarate was arrested on domestic battery charges and found with fake immigration documents and a falsified U.S. Social Security card. Incidents like these have raised concerns that Tren de Aragua’s influence could continue to spread across the Midwest, with reports suggesting potential activity in up to five states, including Illinois and Texas. The investigations come as Vice President Kamala Harris, who was originally appointed as the administration’s “Border Czar,” faces criticism for her handling of the border crisis. AFL has been particularly vocal about her role, with Hamilton stating, "If Border Czar Harris were serious about eliminating the threat of foreign gang behavior in the United States, she would secure the border and deport illegal aliens from the United States. It’s that simple." Harris, who initially spearheaded the administration's “Root Causes Strategy” aimed at addressing the reasons behind migration from Central America, has distanced herself from the border issue as she steps into her role as the Democratic nominee for president. The AFL’s legal challenges reflect growing frustration among conservatives who argue that the administration’s lenient immigration policies have created conditions for violent gangs like Tren de Aragua to take root in the U.S. According to the House Committee on Homeland Security, there have been approximately 9.5 million illegal alien encounters since President Biden took office, including around 1.7 million “gotaways” who remain unlawfully in the country.