Recent reports suggest the potential expansion of the Venezuelan-born criminal organization, Tren de Aragua, into the United States. The group's presence has garnered significant attention in the political and media landscape, particularly as the U.S. presidential election approaches, with both political parties addressing concerns about crime and immigration. In fact, former President Donald Trump mentioned the gang in the presidential debate in September, falsely claiming its members had taken over apartment complexes in Aurora, Colorado.
Tren de Aragua, which evolved from a prison gang into a transnational criminal network over the past years, has taken advantage of large-scale Venezuelan migration since 2018 to extend its reach across South America, establishing footholds in Colombia, Peru, and Chile. Now, there are growing signs of their presence in different parts of the United States.
