A violent Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua (TdA) is gradually spreading its criminal activities across the United States, a situation likened to a "slow-growing cancer" that will impact American society for decades to come.
This alarming revelation is part of a report by the conservative think tank, The Heritage Foundation, which delves into the rise of this transnational criminal organization within U.S. borders.
According to Fox News, the report's release coincides with the ongoing crisis at the southern border, which has seen an unprecedented influx of migrants, including hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans. "During the past few years, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have been released or paroled into the United States, allowed to stay in Temporary Protected Status, or just slipped in without being encountered by authorities (the 'gotaways')," the report states. It further reveals that among these migrants are hundreds of TdA members who, like all migrant gangs, initially prey on their own countrymen.
The report's authors, Simon Hankinson and Erin Schniederjan, trace the origins of TdA to the Tocoron prison in the Venezuelan state of Aragua. From there, the gang has expanded its operations into Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and now the U.S. The researchers draw parallels between TdA and the notorious Salvadoran MS-13 gang, which infiltrated the U.S. in the 1980s and has since been linked to numerous crimes nationwide.
The report also cites former Customs and Border Protection (CBP) acting Commissioner Mark Morgan, who led a gang task force targeting MS-13 in the early 2000s. Morgan's warning is dire, attributing the rise of TdA to the policies of the current administration. "Although MS-13 remains at the top of the list of the 50-plus different gangs from across the globe attempting to illegally enter our borders, the BidenHarris Administration has intentionally provided the pathway for what could become MS-13 2.0," he asserts.
Morgan further emphasizes the severity of the situation, stating, "This is a gang whose propensity for violence and ruthlessness is well documented. TdA is expanding its criminal operations like a slow growing cancer across our nation and unleashing a preventable wave of crime that will be with us for decades."
The Heritage Foundation report also highlights a 25% drop in violent deaths in Venezuela between 2021 and 2022, suggesting a possible link to the country's export of young criminals, many of whom have ended up in the U.S.
Over the past year, TdA has been linked to numerous crimes in states such as Georgia, Illinois, Texas, Colorado, and New York. In New York City alone, officials have tied the gang to over 62 robberies, and suspected gang members have been arrested for assaulting police officers.
The report also notes that TdA has established a significant presence in parts of Colorado, where they have reportedly taken over several apartment blocks. In response to this growing threat, former President Trump has pledged to dismantle the gang if he is elected next month. He recently detailed "Operation Aurora," a plan to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target and dismantle "every illegal migrant criminal network operating on American soil."
The report concludes by warning that the reported crimes could be just the "tip of the iceberg," suggesting that other crimes committed by gang members may have gone unreported. It also notes that the gang's connections may not always be evident to U.S. law enforcement, even after arrests have been made. This sobering reality underscores the urgent need for effective strategies to combat the rise of transnational criminal organizations like TdA.
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