Law enforcement portrays Tren de Aragua as a fledgling group with limited members and minor criminal activities. They emphasize that its operations are far from the violent actions typical of larger criminal organizations.
Venezuelan Migrants Under Scrutiny
Hector Gonzalez, a 23-year-old Venezuelan, dreams of becoming a barber in New York City. Wearing a backward black baseball cap and sporting forearm tattoos, Gonzalez recently faced scrutiny from El Paso police. Officers, some masked in balaclavas, stopped Gonzalez and other Venezuelan migrants on a downtown corner. Police searched their belongings and questioned them about tattoos featuring roses and barbed wire.
Police stated they were looking for a stabbing suspect but also sought members of Tren de Aragua. This Venezuelan street gang drew attention during the U.S. presidential election. Former President Donald Trump falsely claimed the gang had “taken over” cities like Aurora, Colorado.
Gang Perception vs. Reality
Conservative media often depict Tren de Aragua as a violent threat. However, law enforcement provides a different view, labeling it an emerging group with minimal influence. Authorities report that the gang’s activities primarily involve petty crimes like retail theft, often targeting other Venezuelan migrants.
Investigations across Texas, Colorado, and New York challenge the notion of “thousands” of members. Instead, fewer than 135 confirmed gang members have been arrested nationwide. In June, U.S. authorities began re-screening Venezuelan migrants, identifying around 600 with potential ties to Tren de Aragua. Most were classified as witnesses or victims, with fewer than 30 facing gang-related charges.
Since 2021, over 760,000 Venezuelans have sought asylum at the Southwest border due to political and economic strife. Jason Savino, NYPD detective bureau’s assistant chief, stated that Tren de Aragua’s members are “scattered.” Each time they attempt to organize, authorities intervene and arrest them.
Gonzalez, after a brief interrogation, was released. Reflecting on the encounter, he described the stigma faced by those with tattoos, feeling unfairly labeled as a criminal.
Political and Media Influence
In August, Elon Musk heightened fears of Venezuelan gangs by sharing a video on social media. The video allegedly showed Tren de Aragua members taking control of an Aurora apartment building. The gang’s origins trace back to Venezuela’s prison system, where it became involved in extortion and trafficking. In July, the U.S. Treasury labeled it a significant transnational criminal organization.
While reports link Tren de Aragua to retail thefts and moped robberies, law enforcement asserts that it remains small compared to major organizations like MS-13, which has tens of thousands of members worldwide. Peter Hermansen, a retired Border Patrol director, described the gang’s criminal acts as opportunistic rather than organized.
In Aurora, police identified ten suspected members of Tren de Aragua, arresting nine. However, verifying gang affiliation is difficult due to a lack of diplomatic ties with Venezuela. Aurora police chief Todd Chamberlain stressed that the city is not overrun by gangs and that existing gangs have a longer presence than Venezuelan migrants.
Tracking and Policy Changes
In New York, detectives linked Tren de Aragua to an increase in retail thefts. However, Savino noted that violent crimes by the gang remain rare. Texas law enforcement is building databases to track suspected gang members, often identifying them through tattoos. Some members have tattoos referencing Michael Jordan, tied to a notorious Caracas neighborhood.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared Tren de Aragua a “foreign terrorist organization,” boosting state enforcement against them. However, local officials in El Paso dispute this claim, stating no significant gang presence exists there. Michael DeBruhl, director of a local El Paso shelter, reported no signs of Tren de Aragua among the migrants he assists, contradicting the political narrative.
Amid the ongoing political discourse, many Venezuelan migrants, like Gonzalez, continue to pursue a better future. His tattoo reading “LOVE” symbolizes hope as he strives for a peaceful life away from the violence he fled.