Tren de Aragua: A Violent Venezuelan Gang Spreading Across the United States
A recent report from Fox News Digital has revealed that the Tren de Aragua (TdA), a violent Venezuelan gang, has a recorded presence in at least 19 states across the United States, a significant increase from the 16 states reported last month. The gang has been designated as a Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has described it as “a brutal transnational criminal street gang from Venezuela.”
The TdA has been associated with various criminal activities, including drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and extortion networks throughout the nation. The gang’s presence has been reported in states such as New York, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Illinois, California, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Louisiana, Virginia, North Carolina, and most recently, Maryland, North Dakota, Arizona, and Utah.
The Department of Homeland Security has implemented enhanced screening measures at the border to identify known or suspected gang members, including TdA members. According to DHS, anyone processed by the agency at the border goes through rigorous national security and public safety vetting, and anyone identified as a possible threat is denied admission, detained, or referred to other federal agencies for further investigation or prosecution.
Representative Troy Nehls (R-Texas) has expressed concern over the gang’s growing presence, stating, “The Biden administration’s so-called border security policies have allowed millions of illegal aliens to cross our nation’s borders, including bad hombres who are members of the violent Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua.” Nehls warned that the gang’s presence has spread to nearly 20 states, including Texas.
Recent incidents across the United States have highlighted the threat posed by TdA members. For example, a large-scale bust in New York resulted in the arrests of nearly two dozen men suspected of ties to the gang. In another incident, authorities in Colorado arrested 14 people with possible gang ties following a report of an armed home invasion. Additionally, a TdA member was arrested in Tennessee, and authorities have warned of a surge in TdA activity in Maryland.
The gang’s presence has also been reported in other states, with some officials expressing concern over their ability to address the problem. For instance, Canyon County, Idaho Sheriff Kieran Donahue has said that he has received intelligence regarding TdA traveling across Idaho to commit crimes. However, he has not seen any confirmed reports of TdA activity in his county.
The TdA’s rapid expansion across the United States has led to calls for increased security measures and border control. Representative Anthony D’Esposito (R-New York) has described the gang as “MS-13 on steroids,” citing their involvement in drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and extortion networks. He has also warned that the gang’s presence is a significant threat to public safety in both urban and suburban areas.
Individuals confirmed or suspected to be gang members are required to be referred for criminal prosecution or placed into Expedited Removal and detained, according to DHS. Federal officials are working with law enforcement to crack down on TdA and enhance public safety, the department has said.