A notorious Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua has been expanding its operations into the United States, exploiting the ongoing illegal alien crisis at the southern border.

The gang has infiltrated illegal alien communities, particularly in large cities, while posing a significant challenge for law enforcement.

Reports from various states reveal that Tren de Aragua is involved in violent crimes, human trafficking, and drug smuggling, further straining resources and creating safety concerns in American neighborhoods.

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In New York City, Tren de Aragua has established a violent criminal enterprise, taking advantage of the chaos within the city’s shelters, where many illegal aliens are housed.

The gang, originally formed in Venezuela, is notorious for its involvement in drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and violent crime.

According to an investigative report from the *New York Post*, the gang has grown so powerful in the city that its members now terrorize neighborhoods, running prostitution rings and selling illegal drugs like fentanyl-laced substances under the noses of private shelter security guards.

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The gang’s presence has become so pronounced in New York that they operate largely from the city’s shelters.

One such location is the massive tent city on Randall’s Island, which houses thousands of illegal aliens.

The island has been described by law enforcement as a “main hub” for Tren de Aragua’s criminal activities.

The gang has also infiltrated other shelters, such as the Hall Street shelter in Brooklyn, where one of the gang’s leaders reportedly continues to collect drug proceeds and settle disputes despite being kicked out of the facility.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny explained that while not every migrant is involved in criminal activity, Tren de Aragua members use the illegal alien crisis as cover to hide within the larger community. “These TDA guys hide very well in plain sight in the migrant community,” Kenny said.

The gang members often disguise themselves as food delivery workers, using Uber Eats clothing and delivery bags while committing crimes, according to the *New York Post* report.

The gang’s influence in the city has led to an alarming increase in violent crime. Illegal aliens associated with the gang, some as young as 15, have carried out nearly two dozen heists across the city.

These robberies have targeted both retailers and individuals, with victims often facing threats of violence.

One of the more high-profile incidents involved Bernardo Castro Mata, a 19-year-old gang member arrested for shooting two NYPD officers in Queens in June.

Other members have been involved in attacks on tourists and police officers in Times Square, further highlighting the gang’s brazenness.

For many migrants, Tren de Aragua’s violent activities are a reminder of the very dangers they fled from in their home countries.

A Venezuelan migrant residing at Manhattan’s Roosevelt Hotel expressed his concerns, stating, “I wouldn’t want the violence I grew up with to start here.”

Another migrant called the gang “very bad people,” distancing themselves from the criminal elements within the migrant population.

The gang has also established a significant presence beyond New York, particularly in other major cities across the United States.

In El Paso, Texas, a hotel was shut down in September following an investigation into Tren de Aragua’s criminal activities, which allegedly included drug use and prostitution.

According to the El Paso Times, law enforcement confirmed that the gang was operating in the city, taking advantage of the large diaspora of Venezuelan migrants.

Similarly, in Aurora, Colorado, police identified 10 Tren de Aragua members as part of an ongoing investigation into a series of crimes, including shootings, assaults, and vehicle thefts.

The gang had reportedly taken over apartment complexes in the area, further underscoring the widespread reach of their operations.

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The *Denver Post* reported that residents in the affected complexes were fearful as the gang exerted control over the buildings, leading to increased criminal activity.

JUST IN: Former Colorado ICE director says Venezuelan gangs are setting up their network to launch all-out gang wars.

John Fabbricatore is sounding the alarm, saying the Tren de Aragua gang has set up operation in the U.S. much “faster than MS-13 did.”

“There’s about to be a… pic.twitter.com/uun6HOGvbc

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 14, 2024

The Biden-Harris administration’s border policies have been criticized for allowing the influx of illegal aliens from countries like Venezuela without sufficient vetting to detect criminal affiliations.

According to Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, U.S. immigration authorities have little to no tools to identify Tren de Aragua members before they enter the country. “We have no way of knowing whether they were in prison in Venezuela,” Vaughan told the *Daily Caller News Foundation*. “We’re essentially letting them in on their word.”

The lack of formal diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Venezuela has further complicated efforts to obtain criminal records of Venezuelan migrants.

Former Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent Ammon Blair explained that CBP would have to rely on Interpol data, but often the process of obtaining criminal records takes longer than the time illegal aliens are detained. “We’re not heavily scrutinizing anyone coming in,” Blair said. “We’re not detaining them. We’re using alternatives to detention, so no one’s really being vetted.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has acknowledged the growing threat posed by Tren de Aragua, designating the gang a transnational criminal organization in July.

The U.S. Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on the gang for its involvement in human trafficking, drug trafficking, and money laundering.

Despite these measures, the gang has continued to expand its reach, spreading across states and taking advantage of the illegal alien crisis to bolster its ranks.

The Texas government has also taken action in response to the gang’s activities.

Republican Governor Greg Abbott recently announced that he would designate Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization, vowing to bring “the full weight of the government” down on the gang.

More than 3,000 illegal aliens from Venezuela have been arrested in Texas since 2021, with many of them linked to the gang, according to Abbott.

Despite the federal and state responses, the infiltration of Tren de Aragua into the U.S. continues to pose a significant challenge to law enforcement.

As Blair noted, the gang’s presence is growing, and they are likely to spread to Venezuelan communities across the country. “They’re now going to be in every diaspora of Venezuelans or Venezuelan communities inside the United States,” Blair said.

With over half a million Venezuelan illegal alienss having entered the U.S. since Joe Biden took office, the gang’s influence is expected to continue expanding.

Efforts to contain Tren de Aragua’s activities have seen some success in collaboration with international partners.

In 2023, the DHS partnered with Peru to create a Transnational Crime Investigation Unit aimed at combating the gang’s operations in South America.

However, the challenge remains immense, as the gang’s activities span across multiple countries and involve a wide range of criminal enterprises.

As the U.S. grapples with the growing threat of Tren de Aragua, the need for stronger border security and more effective vetting processes has become increasingly evident.

With the gang’s members spreading across cities from New York to Texas, the Biden-Harris administration faces mounting pressure to address the crisis at the border and prevent further infiltration by criminal organizations.