(The Center Square) – Members of the violent Venezuelan prison gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA), continue to expand criminal operations nationwide, including in the northeast and mid-Atlantic states of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Virginia.
As the border crisis escalated under the Biden administration, a record number of Venezuelan illegal border crossers, more than one million, were reported and TdA violence expanded nationwide. Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang members are known for violence, murder, kidnapping, extortion, bribery and human and drug trafficking and are linked to more than 100 law enforcement investigations nationwide.
The following represent a few of numerous examples of confirmed TdA arrests.
In the case of a murdered Ecuadoran national and green card holder found in a Stamford, Conn., hotel, authorities in New York arrested a Venezuelan TdA-connected couple illegally in the country found in possession of the victim’s belongings.
They face stolen property, grand larceny and fleeing justice charges. A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer request was placed on them, Stamford Advocate reported. The woman illegally entered in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas and was released by Border Patrol agents; the man illegally entered as a gotaway, Fox News reported.
“Our investigation revealed both parties are in this country illegally from Venezuela,” Rensselaer Police Chief Warren Famiglietti said. “Both parties are believed to be affiliated with Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal organization from Venezuela.”
In New Jersey and New York, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement continue to arrest confirmed TdA members; multiple news outlets continue to report on TdA members being arrested for allegedly committing gruesome crimes against Americans and migrants.
New York City’s so-called sanctuary city policies have contributed to violent criminals being released onto the streets instead of being held in jail, critics argue. In a reversal of these policies, after President-elect Donald Trump was elected, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he will cooperate with ICE to target and remove the most violent offenders.
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo says sanctuary city policies only create a public safety risk.
“Sanctuary jurisdictions undermine public safety and put our communities at unnecessary risk,” Genalo said after ICE agents apprehended a TdA member convicted by a Bronx County Supreme Court of criminal possession of a weapon. “New York City and state leaders should reevaluate the policies that prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with ERO,” he said.
“It is unconscionable this felon was running free in New York for the last three weeks when he could have immediately been apprehended upon release from local custody. Thankfully, through the due diligence of our courageous officers and our law enforcement partners, this individual was swiftly apprehended and denied the ability to reoffend.”
He’s referring to one of eight illegal foreign nationals arrested by New York Police Department officers in March on felony weapons and drug charges who has an extensive criminal record and local jurisdictions refused to cooperate with ICE.
The TdA member’s criminal history began prior to arriving in New York after he illegally entered the U.S. near El Paso, Texas, in September 2022. Instead of being detained and processed for removal, ICE released him into the country through a Biden administration Alternatives to Detention parole program. He was among the millions identified by ICE for removal, according to the latest ICE data.
ICE ERO NYC agents also arrested a TdA member convicted by a Queens County Criminal Court of second-degree assault, with multiple pending felony charges. He also illegally entered the U.S. in Texas and in June 2022 was enrolled in ATD. Roughly one year later, he was arrested in New York multiple times on multiple felony charges, ICE says.
ICE agents in New York also arrested a TdA member wanted by Peruvian authorities for conspiracy, assault and aggravated theft. He was also among the eight violent illegal border crossers arrested by NYPD officers in March on multiple felony charges, ICE states.
In Virginia, Fairfax County Police Chief Ken Davis confirmed TdA members are involved in retail theft and several were arrested on grand larceny charges, ABC 7 News reported.
A Virginia Fusion Center Intelligence Bulletin issued last month warns that TdA’s threat presents challenges for law enforcement in the commonwealth and TdA members have been confirmed in the Washington, D.C., Central and Northern Virginia areas.
While the governors of Connecticut, New Jersey and New York don’t appear willing to work with the incoming Trump administration, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin earlier this month proposed a “No Sanctuary Cities” budget requiring state and local law enforcement officials to comply with ICE.
“Criminals who are in the United States illegally will be turned over to ICE. We must stop the cycle of violence and crime that is being enabled by some local governments,” Youngkin said. “Virginia is not a sanctuary state, and we must be clear that we will not allow localities to become ‘sanctuary cities.’ If local governments turn their backs on their citizens in order to pander to pro-illegal immigrant groups, we will cut off their funding.”