Jesús Daniel Romero from Miami Strategic Intelligence Institute for Poder & Dinero and FinGurú
Executive Summary
Anthony Fabián Marín La Torre, alias “Propiedad,” is a Venezuelan hitman involved in multiple homicides. After allegedly being arrested by the Zulia state police in September 2022, he appeared in the United States just 16 days later—illegally crossing the border on September 26, 2022 (Friedman, 2025). Despite his violent history, he was not only allowed to remain in the country, but he was also granted a work permit, a Social Security number, and legal protection (ICE, 2025), all under the current permissive immigration framework of the administration in power.
Timeline of Events
● ~September 10, 2022: Venezuelan authorities allegedly arrest “Propiedad” during an operation in Maracaibo.
● September 26, 2022: ICE confirms that Propiedad illegally entered the U.S. near San Luis, Arizona, possibly as part of a family unit (Friedman, 2025).
● 2023–2024: He receives a work permit and Social Security number under Biden-era immigration policies (ICE, 2025).
● February 2025: Concerned citizens alert federal authorities about his presence in Texas. ICE does not act immediately (Newsmax, 2025).
● May 2, 2025: He is finally arrested by ICE and the Northern Texas OCDETF team. Venezuela requests him for at least four contract murders.
Flight Over Darién: Analysis of the Escape Route
Given the short interval between his alleged arrest in Venezuela and his entry into the U.S. (16 days) (Selee & Bolter, 2023), it is logistically improbable that he crossed on foot through Colombia, the Darién jungle, and Central America. The investigative assessment suggests:
● He likely flew from Venezuela to Mexico, using forged documents or with the help of trafficking networks.
● He would then have approached the U.S. border with a family unit to take advantage of legal asylum loopholes.
This points to a transnational smuggling network or a state mechanism that allows high-profile criminals to be quickly inserted into the migration flow to the U.S. (National Border Security and Immigration Center, 2024).
The Ignored Warning
In mid-February 2025, multiple citizen reports alerted federal agencies about the location of “Propiedad” (Newsmax, 2025). The alerts were credible, detailed, and urgent. However, he remained at large for another 10 weeks, receiving government benefits while being wanted for homicide (ICE, 2025). This exposes not only intelligence failures but deliberate bureaucratic negligence backed by current policies (U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2023).
Entry Without Evaluation: A Policy Failure
The entry and protected status of “Propiedad” was the predictable result of an overwhelmed immigration system stripped of effective control mechanisms. His case evidences:
● Total absence of criminal background checks from failed states like Venezuela.
● Lack of systematic review of open-source information (OSINT) or even name alerts.
● Granting of benefits before assessing real risks.
Cooperation in the Shadows: U.S.–Venezuela Coordination
Despite the formal break in diplomatic relations, the U.S. discreetly coordinates with the Venezuelan regime on certain security matters. In the case of Anthony “Propiedad” Marín La Torre, Newsmax and ICE confirm that federal agents acted in part due to information provided by Venezuelan authorities (Newsmax, 2025; ICE, 2025).
This demonstrates that:
● The Maduro regime selectively shares intelligence with U.S. agencies.
● There is covert coordination operating in parallel with the public hostile rhetoric.
● This cooperation jeopardizes the legitimacy of criminal actors within the regime.
“Propiedad” may have been expelled or strategically handed over, becoming a pawn within a broader game of criminal intelligence and geopolitics.
Final Note
¡The United States was warned! The case of Anthony “Propiedad” is not simply about a fugitive. It is an example of what happens when politics, corruption, and weak systems collide—allowing a murderer to hide within the country while the government looks the other way. The border was violated. And justice, once again, came too late.
References
● National Border Security and Immigration Center. (2024). Criminal infiltration through asylum routes: Trends and vulnerabilities. University of Arizona.
https://www.borders.arizona.edu/reports/asylum-criminal-infiltration
● Department of Homeland Security. (2023). Immigration enforcement actions: Fiscal Year 2022. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
https://www.ice.gov/doclib/news/library/reports/annual-report/ero-fy22-report.pdf
● Friedman, D. (May 2, 2025). Venezuelan hitman who illegally crossed the border lived freely in the U.S. for 18 months. New York Post.
https://nypost.com/2025/05/02/us-news/accused-venezuelan-gang-killer-was-allowed-in-us-and-given-work-permit-by-biden-admin/
● Newsmax. (May 3, 2025). ICE confirms arrest of Venezuelan hitman ‘Propiedad’ in Texas after citizen tip. Newsmax.
https://www.newsmax.com/us/ice-propiedad-arrest/2025/05/03/id/0000000/
● U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2023). Southwest border: CBP and ICE face challenges in identifying and processing high-risk migrants.
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-104859
● Selee, A., & Bolter, J. (2023). Immigration management through the Darién Gap: Policy gaps and humanitarian risks. Migration Policy Institute.
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/darien-gap-migration-policy
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (May 2, 2025). Press release on the arrest of Anthony Marín La Torre (“Propiedad”).
https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/propiedad-arrest-statement
With over 25 years of experience in diplomatic and defense positions, retired U.S. Naval Intelligence Commander Jesús Daniel Romero has developed a solid expertise in interagency and operational planning, working with partner countries and U.S. law enforcement to achieve a common objective. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Government from Norfolk State University.
As the retired Chief of Tactical Analysis for the Southern Joint Interagency Task Force, he led teams that achieved significant and successful results in the fight against illicit trafficking and transnational organized crime in the Western Hemisphere. He also served as the agency's country representative at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, where he fostered collaboration and coordination among various stakeholders. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and perspectives through writing, speaking, and mentoring.
Comments