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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
José Olivares in New York

Trump defense official led thinktank that spread lies about Tren de Aragua

a man speaking
Joseph Humire speaking at Enhancing Federal, State, and Local Coordination in the Fight Against Criminal Illegal Aliens hearing on 11 March 2025. Photograph: House Oversight Committee Youtube

A senior official appointed to the defense department led a thinktank that promoted fake news about the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang, according to InSight Crime, a non-profit analyzing organized crime.

Joseph Humire was appointed this summer to be the head of policy focusing on the western hemisphere within the office of the under secretary of defense for policy. He was previously the executive director of a conservative thinktank focused on global security. Humire’s appointment comes as the Trump administration is ramping up its aggressive strategy against organized crime in Latin America and the Venezuelan government, which it accuses of working with TdA.

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