The Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua has spread its violent influence to 16 states across the U.S., according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memo. The gang, known for its brutality, has recently established operations in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Montana, and Wyoming, adding to its existing presence in major states such as Texas, California, Florida, and Colorado.
The DHS memo linked the gang’s expansion to the growing number of Venezuelan migrants in these areas, warning of a “high probability” for increased gang activity. Tren de Aragua has capitalized on migrant populations, engaging in violent crimes like robbery, assault, human trafficking, and drug trade battles. The gang’s operations also include lower-level theft and fraud, with stolen funds reportedly financing additional criminal enterprises in South America.
The Department of Homeland Security’s memo warned about the gang’s violent patterns of “lower-level fraud and theft schemes.” The DHS claims that any stolen cash or assets go “back to South America as a means of financing additional criminal enterprises.”
In Aurora, Colorado, residents reported entire apartment complexes under the gang’s control during a surge of violence this summer. The ring camera footage from a resident in one of the Colorado complexes went viral for showcasing the violent and hostile takeover from gang members.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch highlighted the gang’s activity in cities like Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville, where it has clashed violently with drug cartels. Rausch commented, saying, “They go from human trafficking to organized retail crime theft, and then they move into the drug trade, taking on the cartels in very violent, bloody battles that they’ve had.”
Former DEA agent Wes Tabor explained that these violent gangs have been able to operate and grow rapidly due to the lack of response from law enforcement. “What sets this group apart is the level of violence. They’re aggressive. They’re hungry, and they don’t know any boundaries,” Tabor commented.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) attributed the gang’s rapid expansion to the Biden administration’s border policies, accusing them of creating a permissive environment for transnational criminal organizations. In a statement on his website, Green asserted, “This violent and sadistic gang, Tren de Aragua, is now operating in Tennessee and destabilizing our communities. This is the consequence of President Biden, Vice President Harris, and now-impeached DHS Secretary Mayorkas’ destructive open-borders policies. I commend the TBI for sounding the alarm as state leaders consider options to address the growing presence of Tren de Aragua in Tennessee. As Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I will enthusiastically support the incoming Trump-Vance administration’s agenda to restore order at our borders, revamp interior enforcement, and bring safety back to our communities.”
