U.S. federal authorities recently opened more than 100 investigations into crimes allegedly committed by members of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. This transnational criminal organization, whose name translates to "The Aragua Train," traces its origins to a railway workers' union in the Aragua region.
Members of the Tren de Aragua gang have entered the U.S. in huge numbers, often under the guise of asylum seekers crossing the southern border. Once inside, they have integrated into major urban centers, where they are involved in illicit activities such as money laundering, theft, human trafficking, and even intentionally targeting police officers with gunfire. Gang members sport distinctive tattoos, including images of an AK-47 and a skull adorned with a gas mask. The gang's history of violence and brutal crimes has raised alarm among U.S. lawmakers. And for good reason. These people are absolute animals.
The rise of Tren de Aragua, a gang that began as a ragtag group of inmates, is nothing short of remarkable. Now a powerful criminal empire stretching across continents, it serves as a stark reminder of the unchecked spread of organized crime in Latin America. Born in the brutal confines of Venezuela's Tocorón prison, Tren de Aragua has far outgrown its origins, extending its reach into extortion, kidnapping, drug trafficking, and human smuggling both within Venezuela and across its borders. Their ruthless methods and rapid expansion have left communities in terror, governments destabilized, and bodies in their wake. Today, Tren de Aragua stands as one of the most dangerous criminal forces in Latin America—and increasingly, in the United States.
To be absolutely clear, Tren de Aragua is a highly organized criminal enterprise. Though it formally adopted its name a decade ago, it had been involved in sinister activities long before. This is Venezuela’s first criminal group to expand its operations across continents, with networks stretching from Peru to Panama, Costa Rica to Chile.
In Colombia, the gang collaborates with the National Liberation Army, a rival guerrilla group, to run sex trafficking rings in the border town of Villa del Rosario in the Norte de Santander region. They exploit vulnerable Venezuelan migrants and displaced Colombians, trapping them in debt bondage and other forms of exploitation. In Chile, amid the Tarapacá migrant crisis, Tren de Aragua has been implicated in trafficking women from the Bolivian border to Santiago.
And now they've reached the United States—the land of the free... at least for criminals.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, along with the FBI, have confirmed that Tren de Aragua is now firmly rooted on American soil. Like many illegal entrants, its members have followed migration routes through South America and into the U.S. In New York, 19-year-old Venezuelan Bernardo Raul Castro-Mata recently shot two police officers. Having entered the country illegally last July, Castro-Mata bears tattoos linked to Tren de Aragua, including five-pointed crowns, stars, and teardrops. And thugs like Castro-Mata aren't just terrorizing New York City. No, their presence can be found all across the country, from Denver to Dallas. Last month, a video surfaced showing gang members in Aurora, Colorado, storming an apartment complex with assault rifles, pounding on doors. In North Texas, rumors of the gang’s presence had swirled for over a year, but law enforcement has now officially confirmed that Tren de Aragua is active in the area. What was once speculation is now an undeniable reality. 'We have had gang activity in the north Dallas area linked to the Tren De Aragua gang from Venezuela,' Jennifer Pryor, a spokesperson for the Dallas Police Department, recently told DailyMail.com. The gang's most heinous crimes include the kidnapping and murder of a former police officer in South Florida in November of last year.
To compound matters, Tren de Aragua has already replicated its South American trafficking operations in the U.S. Venezuelan immigrants in Florida and other states report seeing the same types of criminal activities they fled from in Venezuela. In other words, the atrocities occurring just beyond the border may soon take root on American soil. In truth, considering police officers are being gunned down in the streets, it's clear they already have.
Of course, this is a problem—dare I say, a grave threat—that must be viewed through a much broader lens. With Tren de Aragua infiltrating American cities, the urgency to secure our borders and protect our communities has never been more critical. As the U.S. heads into what may be the most pivotal election in its history, the safety of every American is at stake. The gang’s continued spread is a painful reminder that national security isn't just a political talking point—it’s a core responsibility of government, a fundamental right owed to every law-abiding, tax-paying citizen.
Moreover, with gang-related violence now a reality, voters must seriously consider which party has the resolve and capability to confront and dismantle transnational criminal threats. The choice is clear: you can back those who prioritize strong border enforcement and the protection of American lives, or you can support those who dismiss these existential dangers with a nonchalant shrug. Only one party is equipped to address this growing crisis—and it’s not the one currently in power.
