A Venezuelan immigrant, Luis Ernesto Veliz Riera, faces federal charges for possessing a firearm as an illegal alien, marking a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang’s activities in the U.S. Riera, 23, entered the United States through the Mexico-El Paso border in February 2023 and allegedly engaged in various crimes while evading immigration hearings and law enforcement.
Following his arrest on October 17, 2024, during a probe into gang-related activities, authorities discovered a loaded 9mm handgun in Riera’s possession at a hotel. His legal troubles compounded when he failed to attend an immigration hearing in Las Vegas, leading to his removal order by an immigration judge in April 2024. The case indicates broader concerns regarding gang infiltration and illegal firearms in communities across the country.
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