Tren de Aragua’s Expanding Presence in the United States Raises Security Concerns

The presence of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua, or TdA, has expanded to at least 16 states within the United States, covering regions that account for half of the nation’s population, according to an internal Department of Homeland Security memo obtained by The Post. The memo warns of the gang’s increasing foothold and violent activities across the country, particularly in states such as Washington, DC, Virginia, Montana, and Wyoming.

Previously, the gang had established itself in states including New York, New Jersey, California, Florida, Illinois, Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Colorado. The document highlights the gang’s «violent tendencies» growing as their influence spreads. Homeland Security officials have noted the correlation between the increase in migrant populations, particularly Venezuelan nationals, and the gang’s expanding operations.

In Virginia, authorities in Fairfax County arrested three suspected members of the gang in August 2023. Each suspect was identified by TdA’s distinctive tattoos, and one possessed a fraudulent Venezuelan ID. The memo suggests that the gang targets the Washington, DC area to exploit nearby northern Virginia suburbs for criminal activities such as thefts, robberies, and assaults.

Tren de Aragua members are reportedly engaging in «lower-level fraud and theft schemes,» with proceeds allegedly being sent back to Venezuela to finance further criminal activities. In one noted instance, a Tren de Aragua member illegally withdrew $118,000 from a Florida bank using fraudulent check deposits and transferred the funds to Venezuela before the fraud was discovered.

Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak of Wyoming reported holding a suspected Tren de Aragua member related to the possession of a stolen car from Colorado. However, Kozak mentioned that this was the only known arrest within his jurisdiction and that the individual was merely «passing through.» He emphasized that there has not been an increase in Venezuelan immigrants associated with the gang in Wyoming.

Tren de Aragua’s infiltration into the U.S. has been facilitated by the waves of migrants crossing the border under the Biden-Harris administration, compounded by a lack of information-sharing between the U.S. and Venezuela regarding criminal elements. The strained diplomatic ties with Venezuela’s Maduro regime limit deportation options, further complicating efforts to control the gang’s spread.

Adding to the national concerns, President-elect Donald Trump has identified cracking down on Tren de Aragua as a priority, suggesting the involvement of federal agencies such as ICE and potentially the U.S. military to address the issue.

In New York, officials have linked TdA members to shootings, assaults, and robberies, as well as facilitating gun smuggling into migrant shelters and human trafficking activities. Elsewhere, in Tennessee, the gang’s activities include human trafficking and a gradual integration into retail crime and drug trades, according to David Rausch, Director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Rausch warned about the threat the gang poses to rival criminal organizations and law enforcement.

Law enforcement across various states continue to monitor the situation closely, seeking to contain the gang’s influence and potential for violence. The complexity of intelligence gathering presents challenges, as noted by Rausch, but steps are being taken to prevent the gang from progressing into more violent and organized criminal operations.