“I was just out in West Texas. I'm seeing a significant increase in oil theft in West Texas. All my sheriffs are asking for help. Are there any opportunities to expand the FBI oil field theft task force?”
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – (WASHINGTON, D.C.) — Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) questioned Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Director Christopher Wray during today’s House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing. Congressman Gonzales pressed the FBI Director on the agency's response to growing threats toward Americans because of the border crisis.
Tren De Aragua, a gang that originated in the Venezuelan prison system, has caused widespread chaos throughout Central and South America, and is now growing its influence across the United States. The crisis at our southern border has led to a rise in encounters with migrants with ties to Tren De Aragua. Congressman Gonzales questioned FBI Director Wray on the agency’s plan to combat Tren De Aragua’s presence in the United States.
“In three years we're going to be talking about TDA no different than we're talking about MS-13. And it's going to be the communities that get ahead of it that create these task forces…that utilize these task forces at the local, state, and federal level to combat these Venezuelan gangs.
"Once again, I live the border. We're in year four of this…year four is much different than year one,” said Congressman Gonzales during the hearing.
- Click here to watch Congressman Gonzales question FBI Director Wray on Tren De Aragua
Last week, Congressman Gonzales met with Winkler County, Sheriff Darin Mitchell and Kermit Chief of Police, Jaime Ramos to discuss the rise in oil theft in West Texas. During today’s hearing, Congressman Gonzales reiterated the growing concerns from local law enforcement, and questioned FBI Director Wray on the agency’s response to this pressing issue.
Congressman Gonzales: “I was just out in West Texas. I'm seeing a significant increase in oil theft in West Texas. All my sheriffs are asking for help. Are there any opportunities to expand the FBI oil field theft task force?”
FBI Director Wray: “We're very proud of the work that our West Texas offices are doing in terms of the Permian Basin Oil Field Task Force. It's created due to the fact that I think something like 40% of the oil in the U.S. comes from the West Texas region. That task force…has not only state and local law enforcement participation, but we also have, which is a bit innovative, cleared oil field security personnel…typically they're former law enforcement as well…on the task force. It's a way to kind of track oil field crime to ensure that investigations move as quickly as and effectively as possible…it's something we're very focused on.”
Click here to watch Congressman Gonzales’ full questioning during today’s hearing with FBI Director Christopher Wray
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