SAN ANTONIO, Texas
New details from the Law Enforcement Task Force that includes the FBI and DHS indicate that over 50 members of the Venezuelan gang Torren de Aragua were apprehended during a raid at an illegal nightclub in San Antonio on November 16. Earlier this year, the Trump administration had classified Torren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization.
On Tuesday, the South Texas Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) shared an update about the raid that occurred early Sunday morning at a makeshift nightclub located at 5939 San Pedro Blvd. They reported that 143 undocumented immigrants were taken into custody by ICE due to this operation, with 51 identified as members of the Torren de Aragua gang.
Authorities explained that the raid aimed to tackle security issues in the area, which has been associated with individuals linked to the Venezuelan criminal group. Allegations of various unlawful activities, such as drug trafficking, illegal weapon possession, and human trafficking, have emerged regarding the location.
The detainees included 98 Venezuelans, 21 Hondurans, 14 Mexicans, and others from Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Among the suspects, 25 had prior criminal histories in the U.S., comprising 13 felonies and 12 misdemeanors.
Aside from immigration-related arrests, law enforcement also confiscated three firearms and cocaine during the operation, along with discovering more than $30,000 in cash.
Two Democratic senators from Texas have sought clarification from the FBI and DHS concerning the raid. They voiced concerns regarding those detained during the nightclub operation, as reported by Breitbart Texas.
Senators Joaquin Castro and Greg Casar sent a letter last week to several officials from the Trump administration, requesting evidence to justify the search warrants for the raids and additional information about the investigations into those apprehended.
They expressed serious concerns about the legality of the detentions and the due process rights of the individuals, highlighting reports of alleged overreach by officials from DHS and ICE. In their letter, they emphasized the need for transparency regarding the reasons for the raid, the involved agencies, and the situation of those detained.
