The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently expanded its gang apprehension reports to include members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal organization. This addition highlights the increasing pressure on American border security in the face of sophisticated and organized foreign gangs. The CBP’s latest enforcement statistics reveal that they have apprehended 41 suspected Tren de Aragua affiliates during Fiscal Year 2023 and an additional six in Fiscal Year 2024.
The Tren de Aragua’s evolution from a local workers’ union in 2012 into a notorious transnational crime syndicate is indicative of the broader challenges posed by unchecked immigration and border security lapses. Initially formed in connection with a local railway project in Aragua, Venezuela, the gang has diversified its criminal operations to include homicide, theft, extortion, kidnapping, and trafficking of drugs, humans, and arms. Such rapid expansion and diversification demonstrate the risks of incomplete enforcement and porous borders.
The criminal organization’s activities are not confined to its home country. The Tren de Aragua has established footholds in several Latin American nations, such as Chile and Peru, as well as U.S. cities, including New York, Miami, and Chicago. Further complicating the issue, FBI sources suspect alliances between this Venezuelan gang and other notorious groups like the Salvadoran MS-13, particularly in New York. Such alliances amplify the threat and underline the need for stringent border controls.
Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in New York recently apprehended Johan Jose Cardenas Silva, a Venezuelan fugitive. They identified the Tren de Aragua member, who was wanted on multiple charges in Peru. Cardenas Silva had illegally entered the U.S. and was arrested in March for illegal firearm possession, intent to distribute illegal substances, and injuring a teenager. This case underscores the dangers of inadequate immigration enforcement and the potential for violent criminals to exploit weaknesses in the system.
Venezuelan socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro’s regime, which has facilitated the gang’s expansion, repeatedly denies the gang’s existence. This disingenuous stance is contradicted by the regime’s previous actions, such as a so-called “raid” on the Tocorón prison in 2023, believed to be the headquarters of the gang. Despite the raid, the fate of the gang’s leader, Héctor “the Child” Guerrero, remains unknown. Local reports suggest that Guerrero possibly negotiated his escape with the regime well before any action was taken, casting further doubt on the effectiveness and sincerity of such operations.
There are also alarming reports that the Maduro regime may use the Tren de Aragua to hunt down dissidents abroad. Ronald Ojeda, a Venezuelan dissident, was abducted in Chile, and his body was discovered under horrific conditions. This incident highlights the extraterritorial reach of this criminal organization and its state-backed implications.
The infiltration of Chile’s national police by the Tren de Aragua’s human trafficking operations further exemplifies the depth of the threat. This criminal cell, involved in the sexual exploitation of women, received assistance directly from Chilean police members. Such corruption underscores the broader danger posed by these organizations’ ability to corrupt and infiltrate state institutions.
As debates about immigration policies continue, it is imperative to consider these real and immediate threats posed by transnational criminal groups. Rigorous border security measures are not merely a matter of policy preference but a necessity for safeguarding the nation’s security and well-being. The inclusion of the Tren de Aragua in CBP’s gang-affiliation reports is a critical step. Still, it must be accompanied by comprehensive and effective immigration enforcement to protect American citizens from the repercussions of these dangerous organizations.
