In a recent development, four members of the notorious Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang were apprehended by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers after they unlawfully crossed the border from Mexico.
The arrest was part of a larger group of 22 migrants from four different nations who crossed the border on New Year's Eve.
As reported by Breitbart, Texas Governor Greg Abbott publicized the arrest on Friday, stating, "Earlier this week, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers identified and arrested four vicious TdA gang members attempting to illegally cross the border from Mexico into the state." The migrants, who were intercepted by DPS troopers as part of Governor Abbott's Operation Lone Star border security mission, were identified as citizens of Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela.
Of the 22 migrants, 11 were arrested on charges of criminal trespass, while the remaining family units were handed over to Border Patrol agents. During the processing of the arrested migrants, nine were identified as Venezuelan nationals. Following further investigation by DPS special agents, four of the men were confirmed to be members of the Tren de Aragua gang, a group known for its extreme violence.
The arrested gang members were identified as Segundo Ocando-Mejia, 39; Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo, 27; Antonio Joe Urruttia-Rojas, 18; and Levi Jesus Urrutia-Blanco, 18. "Ocando-Mejia had tattoos on his shoulders indicating he may hold rank or leadership within the gang," officials reported.
Governor Abbott, taking a firm stance against the gang, declared, "I designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organization, and we will not tolerate this gang operating or gaining a foothold in Texas." He further emphasized the need for stringent border security, stating, "Until President Trump is back in the White House to secure our border, Texas will continue to hunt down dangerous criminals like TdA and put them behind bars to protect Texans from this vicious gang."
The arrest of these gang members underscores the ongoing challenges faced by border security forces. It also highlights the importance of maintaining stringent border controls to prevent the infiltration of dangerous criminals into the state. The commitment to protecting Texans from such threats remains a top priority for the state's administration.
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