El Paso, Texas is bracing for an unprecedented threat as a violent Venezuelan gang, described as ‘MS-13 on steroids,’ makes moves to infiltrate the U.S.
At a Glance
- The Mexican border state of Chihuahua is on alert for members of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA).
- TdA members are reportedly moving through Chihuahua to cross into the U.S. near El Paso, Texas.
- The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned TdA in July as a transnational criminal organization.
- U.S. law enforcement and immigration officials are investigating over 100 cases involving suspected members of TdA. – NBC News
Growing Security Concerns in El Paso
The city of El Paso is enhancing security measures amid rising concerns over a violent Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua (TdA). Law enforcement officials are on high alert due to reports indicating that members of this gang are moving through the Mexican state of Chihuahua with intentions to cross into the U.S. near El Paso. This has spurred urgent action from local and federal authorities.
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned TdA as a transnational criminal organization in July, citing its involvement in human trafficking, extortion, money laundering, and drug trafficking. The gang traffics people, particularly migrant women and girls, for sex trafficking and debt bondage, often killing them and publicizing their deaths as a warning to others.
A Looming Threat: MS-13 on Steroids
Described as “MS-13 on steroids” due to their aggressive and organized nature, TdA has been linked to numerous violent activities, including a recent armed invasion of an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado. U.S. officials and Texas Representative Tony Gonzales have voiced their concerns about the gang infiltrating the U.S.
“They’re extremely aggressive. It’s not as if they’re a passive group, or they want to quietly go about things,” Gonzales said in a phone interview with Fox News Digital earlier this month. “They’re coming from Venezuela, one of the most war-torn countries over the last decade. So, they’re battle-hardened in many ways. And they’ve made this trek from there to here. But they are also becoming… more organized and more brazen.”
This needs to be the biggest story in the country right now.
Absolutely terrifying.
And the open borders lunatics tried to convince us it was just a “conspiracy theory” https://t.co/8j9i2QoKWa
— Kimberly Guilfoyle (@kimguilfoyle) August 29, 2024
Border Security & Challenges
Interpol has classified TdA as a major regional security threat that is expanding its reach into Mexico and the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has over 100 ongoing investigations involving suspected TdA members. However, the U.S. faces significant challenges in vetting migrants from countries like Venezuela, which do not share criminal history information.
In 2023, over 330,000 Venezuelans crossed the U.S. border, with Venezuela not cooperating in providing criminal data or accepting deported nationals. The Biden administration has seen a surge in migrants, with approximately 800,000 Venezuelans attempting to cross into the U.S. since 2021. Notably, Democratic mayors in cities like Chicago, New York, and Denver have raised concerns about the significant influx of Venezuelan migrants.
“unless agents get a Venezuelan migrant’s criminal history from Interpol or “they already have a criminal record inside the United States, we won’t know who they are.” – Ammon Blair, former Border Patrol agent
Transnational Crime and Responses
The origins of Tren de Aragua can be traced back to the Tocorón prison in Aragua, Venezuela. The gang is reputedly led by Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as “El Niño Guerrero,” and has about 5,000 members. The gang has spread internationally by forming alliances with local gangs and adapting to new environments. El Paso’s heightened security measures are a critical response to counter the potential threat posed by this gang.
“This gang, I have to say, is not a common gang. It is not a normal gang,” Gilberto Loya, public safety secretary for the state of Chihuahua, said at an April 15 news briefing. “It is a gang that we have classified as more dangerous than the Mara Salvatrucha, but differs from the Mara Salvatrucha in that it is much less identifiable.” – Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center
As the situation develops, authorities are continuously working to safeguard US residents from this burgeoning criminal threat, amplifying the call for stronger border security and effective transnational cooperation against organized crime.
