Staff Reports
Over Memorial Day weekend, U.S. Border Patrol agents in Texas apprehended 10 members of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, raising concerns about the growing threat at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Chief of U.S. Border Patrol, Jason Owens, announced the arrests, warning that the gang poses a serious danger to communities. He stated that the gang members are in the process of being removed from the U.S., urging civilians to remain cautious of any suspected members.
Tren de Aragua, which originated as a prison gang in northern Venezuela’s Aragua region, has expanded into one of the largest criminal organizations in Venezuela, with an estimated 5,000 members and a growing presence across Latin America and the U.S. The gang has gained notoriety in the U.S. for its involvement in various criminal activities, including murders, bribery schemes, money laundering, drug and arms trafficking, and kidnappings for ransom.
'Serious Threat': USBP Arrested 10 Venezuelan Gang Members at Southern Border. The Suburbs are not immune, it's the best spot for high quality robberies #SuburbanWomen https://t.co/m2tAZG1Bko
— MainStreetUSA (@Middleclass1967) June 4, 2024
Moreover, reports indicate that ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) agents have previously arrested Tren de Aragua gang members in New York City and Chicago, but have faced challenges in deporting them due to federal and public policies. Many gang members have entered the U.S. illegally, committed crimes, and been released after being arrested. This was exemplified by the case of Johan Jose Cardenas Silva, who entered the U.S. illegally in Texas, was ordered to be removed, and was subsequently released on an order of supervision to report to New York City, but failed to comply. Cardenas has since been arrested in New York for multiple serious crimes and is currently in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
In response to the escalating threat posed by Tren de Aragua, Senator Marco Rubio and Representative Maria Elvira Salvara have urged President Biden to designate the gang as a Transnational Criminal Organization. They emphasized the urgent need to address the gang’s criminal activities, which include murder, drug and human trafficking, sex crimes, extortion, and kidnapping, to prevent further devastation in U.S. cities and small towns.
The apprehension of 10 Tren de Aragua gang members in Texas has brought attention to the need for strong border security measures and effective enforcement of immigration laws to combat the growing threat posed by transnational criminal organizations operating along the U.S.-Mexico border.
