Overview

• Bernardo Raul Castro Mata, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, allegedly shot two NYPD officers in Queens.
• Mata claims he was recruited by the Tren de Aragua gang after entering the U.S. illegally in 2023.
• The gang is known for violent crimes, including robberies and murders, across several U.S. states.
• Mata was living in a migrant shelter and had a dismissed deportation case prior to the incident.
• Local and federal authorities face criticism over immigration policies and enforcement.