The Tren de Aragua, a violent street gang that emerged from Venezuela, has been linked to numerous crimes across the country and has recently attracted national attention after reportedly taking over an apartment building in Colorado.
who are they?
The gang is believed to have originated in Venezuelan prisons and migrated north over the past decade, but its notoriety in the United States has grown this year because of a number of high-profile crimes linked to it, many of whom are believed to have come across the southern border as part of a recent surge in migration.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) warned agents in March about the gang's tattoos and other distinctive features, and federal authorities had previously warned the group was seeking to establish itself in the US and may align with the violent MS-13 gang.
Colorado city takes action after video of Venezuelan armed gang shared by local authorities goes viral
Men allegedly members of the Tren de Aragua gang took over an apartment in Aurora, Colorado, and demanded rent in exchange for security. (Edward Romero/Councillor Daniel Jurinski)
Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas said in an interview with Fox News Digital earlier this year that the gang was “sparking violence across Latin America.”
“We are currently seeing an increase in illegal immigrants with ties to Tren de Aragua. Until the border crisis is contained, we will see more and more bad actors exploiting loopholes in the immigration system,” he said.
What did they do?
In February, New York authorities alleged the gang was behind more than 62 robberies across the city and arrested two suspected gang members in connection with a shocking assault on two NYPD officers.
The brother of the man suspected in the murder of Georgia student Laken Riley has ties to the gang, and 10 immigrants with gang ties were arrested in Texas earlier this month.
“Please keep an eye on this gang,” Border Patrol Captain Jason Owens said at the time. “Their criminal activity poses a serious threat to our communities!”
What's going on in Colorado?
FBI fears Venezuelan immigrant gang members may collaborate with MS-13 killers
The gang has a large presence in parts of Colorado, where Fox News Digital reported in July that TdA members had received “permission” to shoot and attack police in Denver.
More recently, reports have emerged that gangs have taken over at least two apartment buildings in Aurora, with security footage showing heavily armed men kicking in apartment doors. “We actually have several buildings under the same ownership out of state that have fallen into the hands of Venezuelan gangs,” Aurora's mayor told Fox News.
These images from a CBP intelligence bulletin show Tren de Aragua's tattoos and other identifying information.
But the city said it has a “small” presence in Aurora and that the media has “conflated and grossly exaggerated an incident that is limited to only a handful of problem properties.”
Aurora Police spokesman said recently: The Denver Post “It is too early to quantify in any way the presence of TdA in Aurora,” the city said in a statement. The city said police “continue to identify and apprehend offenders,” and noted that residents cite poor living conditions, not property takeovers, as the culprit.
Meanwhile, ICE confirmed to Fox News last week that four known or suspected gang members arrested by police this week in Aurora in connection with the July shooting are undocumented immigrants who were apprehended at the border and released.
For more coverage on the border security crisis, click here
What is the Federal Government doing?
The Biden administration announced significant measures against the gang in July when the Treasury Department designated Tren de Aragua a “significant transnational criminal organization,” which will freeze all property and assets owned by the gang in the United States.
The State Department, meanwhile, offered a reward of up to $12 million for information leading to the arrest of three gang leaders. The administration also stressed it is working to take down gangs and is stepping up investigations.
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Senior border patrol officials told Fox News this week that gangs are a top priority, but pressure is only likely to increase after former President Donald Trump raised the issue during a Fox News town hall this week.
“Look at Aurora, Colorado. Venezuelans have taken over the whole town. They're taking over buildings. The whole town,” he said.
