Who Is Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan Gang Alarming US Law Enforcement?

A Venezuelan criminal gang, Tren de Aragua, has established a significant presence in the United States, putting law enforcement on alert.

Enemy of State: Associated Press (Lean Left bias) noted that in July the Biden administration sanctioned the gang and placed it on a list of transnational criminal organizations. This month, Texas also took action against it by what AP describes as “directing state police to target the gang.” AP called the gang “a menace even on American soil” and wrote that it “has exploded into the U.S. presidential campaign amid a spree of kidnappings, extortion and other crimes throughout the western hemisphere tied to a mass exodus of Venezuelan migrants.”

Sanctuary Cities: NewsNation (Center bias) wrote that Tren de Aragua’s “presence in sanctuary cities like Chicago, Denver and New York raises concern; however, the level of their activity remains in question.” NewsNation reported seeing emails from officials in Chicago dating back to October 2023 that describe the gang as a “new threat developing amongst the newly arriving immigrant community.”

Sex Trafficking: The New York Post (Lean Right bias) reported obtaining a “newly leaked law enforcement document” that, in The Post’s words, says “Tren de Aragua is luring desperate women deep into the heart of the US, forcing them to sell their bodies on the streets of American cities to pay off exorbitant smuggling fees.” The Post also said the document explains that eight states have seen “an explosion in migrant prostitution since the gang laid down roots in the U.S.”