Texas officials have declared the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization and launched a statewide operation to target the group. Governor Greg Abbott made the announcement during a press conference at the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Southeast Texas Regional Headquarters in Houston. Abbott said, “The recent entry and expansion of the vicious Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, is a dangerous and deadly problem facing our state and nation.
Our top focus is the safety and security of all Texans.”
The Governor directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to elevate Tren de Aragua to a Tier 1 gang and create a strike team to identify and arrest its members.
Targeting Tren de Aragua gang
The strike team will include hundreds of personnel, such as DPS Highway Patrol troopers, Special Agents, and Texas Rangers.
DPS Director Steve McCraw compared Tren de Aragua gangsters to cockroaches, stating, “They multiply quickly; small intrusions into communities become infestations if not aggressively pursued. These Venezuelan thugs are highly combative, violent, and certainly adaptable.”
Texas Border Czar Mike Banks attributed the gang’s presence in the United States to open border policies, saying, “I want to be very clear: the Tren de Aragua problem in Texas and the rest of the United States is a direct result of open border policies.”
The initiative will allow Texas to use the courts to curb the gang’s criminal operations, use civil asset forfeiture to seize their property, and enhance criminal penalties during prosecution. DPS will also coordinate operations with federal and local partners through state-funded Texas Anti-Gang Centers.
Last year, Governor Abbott signed legislation that defined transnational drug cartels and criminal organizations in Texas, increased penalties for drug distribution and stash house operation, and created mandatory minimum prison sentences for smuggling of persons.
