Three migrants staying at a Texas hotel that has been under the spotlight recently were arrested on Tuesday, local authorities reported.
The people in question, two women and a man of Venezuelan origin, had been ordered to leave the country by an immigration judge, according to Border Patrol. They were taken into custody and then transported to a processing center.
They had been staying at the Gateway Hotel in El Paso, which has been targeted for allegedly harboring members of the Venezuelan-born Tren de Aragua gang. The hotel was given a 90-day injunction and a restraining order by the Country Attorney's Office following allegations of ongoing criminal activity.
El Paso County Attorney Christina Sanchez, has operated without a valid certificate of occupancy for the past six years. The filing claims the hotel has been the site of repeated criminal incidents, with police responding to 693 calls over the last two years. It has also failed multiple inspections from the fire department over the past three months.
Police reports cite habitual criminal activity, including drug use, theft, and violent behavior within the hotel. Notably, video footage submitted as part of the evidence shows individuals partying, using weapons, and engaging in violent acts while security personnel are present. Officers also reported the presence of individuals with tattoos linked to the Tren De Aragua gang.
The injunction details five times when law enforcement received formal complaints related to alleged Tren de Aragua members. One of them involves a man who had his backpack stolen by several men who then punched him in the face, showed him a gun and fired a shot in the air, telling the victim he would be killed if he went to the police. Authorities believe the group "hangs out" at the Gateway Hotel.
Christina Sanchez clarified that the gang's presence is not the reason for the injunction. "It's important to clarify that this lawsuit was not prompted by criminal activities attributed to any specific group or gang.
District Court Judge Maria Salas Mendoza later gave the Gateway Hotel until Thursday at 10 a.m. to vacate the premises. It is unclear whether the order has been fulfilled.
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