Governor Greg Abbott has officially classified Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization.
At a Glance
- Gov. Greg Abbott has declared the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization.
- The gang originated in a prison in Aragua, Venezuela, and has expanded into Central America and the U.S.
- Tren de Aragua is involved in human smuggling, kidnapping, extortion, and drug trafficking.
- Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to create a strike team to target the gang.
- This declaration could lead to increased sentences for crimes and civil penalties.
Governor Abbott’s Classification
Responding to a violent border encounter involving more than 100 members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, Governor Greg Abbott has classified the group as a “foreign terrorist organization.” This classification aims to combat the gang’s illegal activities such as murder, drug trafficking, and extortion. The state’s comprehensive strategy includes mandatory minimum sentences and establishing a gang member database for effective monitoring.
The gang originated in a prison in Aragua, Venezuela, and has expanded into Texas, New York, Colorado, and Wisconsin. Members engage in human smuggling, kidnapping, extortion, and drug trafficking, primarily targeting migrants. Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to create a strike team focusing on Tren de Aragua.
Today, I announced that Texas is aggressively targeting the dangerous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
I also designated them as a foreign terrorist organization.
We are a law-and-order state, and we will defend Texas from this threat.
More: https://t.co/4zQk0FPxmb pic.twitter.com/EUrn0z3qlO
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) September 16, 2024
Impact of Classification
Declaring the gang a foreign terrorist organization could lead to increased sentences for crimes and civil penalties. Texas law enforcement is developing a database to track individuals affiliated with the gang, further enhancing state-level monitoring efforts. El Paso is recognized as a significant operational base for Tren de Aragua in Texas. Over 3,000 undocumented Venezuelans linked to the gang have been arrested in Texas since 2021.
“The recent entry and expansion of the vicious Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, is a dangerous and deadly problem facing our state and nation,” said Governor Abbott.
Abbott blamed the rise in gang activity on President Joe Biden’s immigration policies. This declaration by Texas law enforcement highlights the broader context of U.S. politics and debates surrounding undocumented immigrants, especially with the upcoming presidential election.
Steps Taken by Texas Law Enforcement
The Texas Department of Public Safety will elevate Tren de Aragua to a Tier 1 gang status and create a special strike team. This team will include DPS Highway Patrol troopers, Special Agents, and Texas Rangers. Efforts will be coordinated with Texas Anti-Gang Centers and local law enforcement to target gang activities and disrupt their operations. Senate Bill 1900 and Senate Bill 4 will enforce mandatory minimum prison sentences and enhance penalties for related criminal activities.
“We will bring the full weight of the government against the TDA by declaring TDA a foreign terrorist organization,” Abbott said before signing the proclamation. “Texas will use the courts to halt their operations, use civil asset forfeiture to take their property, use enhanced criminal penalties to keep them in jail, behind bars for longer periods of time.”
This multi-pronged strategy by Texas is set to combat the threats posed by the Tren de Aragua gang. Ongoing collaboration among state, federal, and local authorities will be essential to protect American communities from this growing danger.
