President Trump’s administration strikes a powerful blow against international crime as ICE arrests 68 members of the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The crackdown signals a renewed commitment to eliminating dangerous criminal elements that crossed America’s borders under Biden-Harris’ watch.
At a glance:
• ICE has arrested 68 Tren de Aragua members in the last 48 hours, adding to the nearly 400 arrested since Trump took office
• President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to authorize rapid removal of gang members from U.S. soil
• The Trump administration deported 250 illegal aliens belonging to the terrorist organization last week
• Tren de Aragua originated in a Venezuelan prison and has expanded across South America and into multiple U.S. states
• The gang is involved in human smuggling, kidnapping, extortion, drug trafficking, and attacks on U.S. law enforcement
Trump Admin Targets Dangerous Venezuelan Gang
The Trump administration continues its aggressive campaign against the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua, which has established a growing presence in the United States. In the latest operation, ICE arrested 68 members of the criminal organization over just 48 hours, demonstrating the administration’s commitment to removing dangerous foreign elements from American communities.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons announced that nearly 400 members of the transnational criminal organization have been arrested since President Trump returned to office. The arrests span multiple states where the gang has established a foothold, including Texas, New York, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and Virginia.
President Trump recently invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, giving his administration expanded authority to deal with the criminal gang. The law allows the President to arrest, detain, and deport non-citizens from nations involved in an “invasion or predatory incursion” into the United States.
Gang’s Expansion Under Biden-Harris Administration
Tren de Aragua originated in a prison in Venezuela’s Aragua state and has rapidly expanded its operations throughout South America and into the United States. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has taken a strong stance against the gang, declaring it a foreign terrorist organization and directing the Texas Department of Public Safety to form a special strike team targeting its members.
Governor Abbott placed blame squarely on the Biden-Harris administration’s border policies.
“The fact of the matter is, this is something that has exploded in the aftermath of the president saying that if you’re from Venezuela, you’ll be allowed in the United States,” Abbott said.
The criminal organization has taken advantage of America’s open borders to establish operations in at least 14 U.S. states. Law enforcement officials report that the gang has been particularly active in Colorado, where they seized control of apartment complexes in Aurora, terrorizing residents and creating lawless zones within American communities.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons emphasized the sophisticated nature of the threat, saying: “TDA members aren’t stupid, They don’t wear uniforms like the men and women here. They’re out there. They’re sophisticated, and they hide their crimes.”
Trump’s Strong Response to Transnational Threat
The Trump administration has designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization, recognizing the serious threat it poses to American communities. Last week, the administration successfully deported 250 illegal aliens affiliated with the organization, sending a clear message that such criminal elements will not be tolerated on U.S. soil.
“This brutal criminal group has conducted kidnappings, extorted businesses, bribed public officials, authorized its members to attack and kill U.S. law enforcement, and assassinated a Venezuelan opposition figure,” Trump’s State Department said in a statement.
Many of the deported gang members have been sent to El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele confirmed they will be housed in the country’s maximum-security mega-prison at the CECOP facility. Lyons assured Americans that ICE has the resources and determination to continue targeting these criminals, stating: “We have more resources than ever to find them and get rid of them from the United States.”
