TRAVERSE CITY — Federal immigration authorities arrested a Venezuelan national on July 4 in Traverse City who is suspected of being affiliated with Tren De Aragua, a foreign criminal organization known for violent and illicit activities.
According to a July 16 news release, officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, along with Homeland Security Investigations, took 25-year-old Kleiber Siso Balza into custody.
Authorities said Siso was in the United States illegally and has an active warrant in Virginia for possession of burglary tools, as well as a pending larceny charge in Florida.
Siso was arrested alongside three other men who are also allegedly in the country without legal status.
“Our teams are working daily to remove criminal aliens and immigration violators from our communities across Michigan and Ohio,” said Kevin Raycraft, acting field office director for ICE ERO Detroit. “I’m extraordinarily grateful to our officers for their service, especially when they sacrifice time with their own families to keep our communities safe.”
Tren De Aragua has been linked to sex trafficking, drug trafficking, debt bondage and murder, according to Jared Murphey, acting special agent in charge of ICE HSI Detroit.
“We’re thankful to have the assistance of our TSA, Federal Air Marshals and IRS partners in executing this important mission,” Murphey said.
ICE encourages the public to report immigration-related crimes or suspicious activity by calling 866-347-2423 or submitting an online tip.