Tren de Aragua Border Security Threat Assessment Act
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Would require the Department of Homeland Security to produce a formal threat assessment on Tren de Aragua — the Venezuelan gang — covering its origins, leadership, tactics, and U.S. presence, followed by a strategic plan to counter it.
The bill is a reporting and planning measure, not a direct enforcement action, but it would put on record the federal government's official picture of one of the most discussed transnational criminal organizations now operating in the United States.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the intelligence community and other relevant federal agencies, to submit a border threat assessment on Tren de Aragua to the appropriate congressional committees within 180 days of enactment. The assessment would have to cover the gang's origins, strategic aims, tactical methods, funding sources, leadership structure, and growth and presence in the United States, as well as current and potential criminal threats along the southwest, northern, and maritime borders. The document must be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.
Within one year after the threat assessment is submitted, DHS would also have to deliver a strategic plan for countering those threats. The plan would address mitigation efforts against Tren de Aragua and other transnational criminal organizations, information-sharing between DHS border components and other federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies, and efforts to locate, interdict, and prevent these organizations from proliferating in the United States. The bill does not authorize new enforcement powers or appropriate new funding.
Key provisions
- 1Would require DHS to submit a border threat assessment on Tren de Aragua to congressional committees within 180 days of enactment, in unclassified form with an optional classified annex.
- 2Would require the threat assessment to cover Tren de Aragua's origins, strategic aims, tactical methods, funding sources, leadership structure, and U.S. growth and presence.
- 3Would require DHS to submit a strategic plan for countering identified threats within one year after the threat assessment is submitted.
- 4Would require the strategic plan to address information-sharing between DHS border components and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies near all U.S. borders.
- 5Would require the strategic plan to address efforts to locate, detect, interdict, disrupt, and prevent proliferation of transnational criminal organizations including Tren de Aragua.
Who would be affected
The Department of Homeland Security and its border security components, which would be responsible for producing both documents. Federal intelligence community members and other relevant agencies consulted during preparation. State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies near the southwest, northern, and maritime borders, which the strategic plan would address for information-sharing purposes. Congressional homeland security committees, which would receive the reports.
Why it matters
If enacted, DHS would be legally required to produce a public (unclassified) accounting of Tren de Aragua's U.S. footprint and a plan to address it — creating a baseline record that Congress and the public could use to evaluate administration enforcement efforts. State and local law enforcement near the borders could receive better-coordinated threat information as a result of the required strategic plan.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4)) (Sec. 2(c)(2))
Incorporates the existing definition of 'intelligence community' by reference; the bill does not change the statute itself.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Deadline for DHS to submit the border threat assessment to Congress
- Deadline for DHS to submit the strategic plan to Congress
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4070 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025–2030 period, with no effect on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit.
H.R. 4070 would require the Department of Homeland Security to submit to Congress both a threat assessment of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua and a strategic plan to counter those border-security threats. CBO estimates the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025–2030 period, subject to the availability of appropriated (discretionary) funds; it would have no effect on direct (mandatory) spending, revenues, or the deficit. CBO found no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill, and statutory pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
How implementation would work
DHS would have 180 days from enactment to complete the threat assessment, working with the intelligence community and other relevant federal agencies. Within one year of submitting that assessment, DHS must deliver a strategic plan to the same congressional committees. Both documents are submitted in unclassified form, with a classified annex option for the threat assessment. No rulemaking, grants, or enforcement mechanisms are established; the bill's entire implementation arc is two sequential written deliverables to the House Homeland Security Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to submit a border threat assessment and strategic plan regarding Tren de Aragua and other transnational criminal organizations. (Tren de Aragua is a gang that originated in Venezuela.)
The threat assessment must include current and potential criminal threats from Tren de Aragua and a description of its origins, strategic aims, funding sources, and U.S. growth and presence.
DHS must submit a strategic plan not later than one year after submission of the threat assessment. The plan must include, for example, a consideration of the threat assessment and mitigation efforts regarding Tren de Aragua and other transnational criminal organizations and efforts to disseminate information between DHS and other departments, agencies, and law enforcement entities with missions associated with the border.
Legislative subjects
Border security and unlawful immigration; Immigration; Latin America; Law enforcement administration and funding; Organized crime; Venezuela
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-313