In a concerning turn of events reported by law enforcement sources to The Post, New York City's sanctuary city status has unwittingly provided fertile ground for the expansion of the Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua. The gang has taken advantage of the migrant-friendly policies to establish a criminal network operating within local migrant shelters, dealing in drugs, weapons, and human trafficking in the five boroughs.

The restrictive policies in place prevent the NYPD from effectively policing these migrant shelters, enabling Tren de Aragua to operate with impunity. Additionally, the city's stance on not cooperating with federal immigration officials means that dangerous illegal immigrants are often released back into the communities they target. This has raised concerns among law enforcement agencies and has highlighted the unintended consequences of the city's sanctuary policies.

Efforts to combat the gang's activities have been hindered by the limited police access to migrant shelters unless under specific circumstances like health emergencies or with warrants. A recent police raid at a migrant shelter on Randall's Island, prompted by reports of weapons being stashed on site by Tren de Aragua, was thwarted after the gang was tipped off and managed to hide their cache. Furthermore, private security guards at the shelters, who are restricted from collaborating with the NYPD, have been implicated in allowing contraband items like guns and drugs to enter the facilities unchecked.