An alleged 'Tren de Aragua' member was arrested in New Mexico on an outstanding warrant for homicide in Texas this week. The episode is the latest in a series of actions targeted at the Venezuelan-born gang which Texas governor Greg Abbott recently declared a "foreign terrorist organization."
The gang's presence has garnered significant attention in the political and media landscape, becoming a symbol for crimes committed by undocumented immigrants in the country as the elections approach and the issue dominates the political conversation.
In this context, Texas GOP lawmakers Chip Roy and Ted Cruz have demanded a detailed report from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the potential members' whereabouts and any links to criminal activity, highlighting the gang's growing presence in the United States, including Texas.
"The Biden-Harris administration has imported Venezuelan illegal aliens at an alarming rate, allowing criminals – including the gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) – to gain a foothold in Texas and communities throughout the United States. Texans and the American people deserve better," reads a passage of the letter, addressed at Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Thursday.
Roy and Cruz argue that lax border policies have enabled members of the gang to pose as asylum seekers and bypass vetting procedures, citing Venezuela's lack of cooperation in sharing criminal records.
Recent operations by law enforcement have revealed the scope of the problem. In October 2024, authorities in San Antonio arrested 19 Venezuelan nationals during a raid on a gang-controlled apartment complex. Four of those arrested were confirmed TdA members, with one identified as a leader of the gang's activities. Additionally, in El Paso, over 20 suspected TdA members were arrested at a hotel involved in human smuggling and drug-related crimes.
Roy and Cruz point to further cases, such as the suspected involvement of TdA members in the murder of a 12-year-old girl in Houston and other violent crimes across states like New York, Arizona, and California. "Our law enforcement community and the Texans they serve deserve answers on the scope of infiltration of TCOs under this administration," the letter concludes.
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