Trump repeats false claims that Venezuela sent criminals and mentally ill to US

During a White House press conference, President Trump reiterated debunked claims that the Venezuelan government under Maduro deliberately released "thousands of prisoners and mentally ill people" into the United States as undocumented immigrants. He also falsely claimed Venezuela coordinated with the Tren de Aragua gang to send members and drugs to the US. Multiple intelligence assessments have found no evidence of such coordination. Immigration experts, Latin America specialists, and Venezuelan criminologists have consistently stated these claims are baseless. Trump has been repeating these false assertions for over two years, often citing Venezuela's crime drop as supposed evidence, despite experts confirming no connection exists between crime statistics and immigration patterns.

"Venezuela sent thousands of prisoners and mentally ill people to the United States" — Statement made during White House press conference repeating claims about Venezuelan government coordination with criminal gangs