NBC publishes misleading headline claiming DHS “identified more than 600 migrants with possible ties to Venezuelan gang”

In reality, these “ties” could include being victims or witnesses to gang criminal activity

Written by Courtney Hagle

Published

On October 23, NBC published an article with the sensationalized headline: “DHS has identified more than 600 migrants with possible ties to Venezuelan gang.” But, as the article goes on to note, “over 100 were deemed confirmed gang members whom DHS recommended be placed on an FBI watchlist. The others could be victims, witnesses or members of the gang.”

Journalists quickly pointed out that the headline was misleading, as demonstrated by the actual reporting from NBC.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his allies in the Republican Party and right-wing media have sought to make Venezuelan gang activity in the U.S. a key feature of the 2024 campaign. In particular, Trump has latched onto claims about Aurora, Colorado, which the city’s Republican mayor has pushed back against.