(Texas Scorecard) – Four members of a violent Venezuelan gang who were encountered at the Texas-Mexico border and released by the Biden-Harris administration have been arrested in Colorado.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials confirmed to Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin that four known and suspected members of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, have been arrested in connection to a shooting and attempted murder in Aurora, Colorado.
Most of the Tren de Aragua gang members first crossed into the U.S. in 2022 and 2023 through Texas and were released by the Biden-Harris administration.
The gang is best known for its involvement in sex trafficking young girls and women and exploiting other Venezuelans.
Two of the members were first encountered in October 2022.
Jhonnardy Jose Pacheco-Chirinos, who has been reported as the “shot-caller” of the gang and known as “cookie” was apprehended by Border Patrol in the Del Rio Sector. He was released into the U.S. with a notice to appear.
Jhonnarty De Jesus Pacheco-Chirinos was also apprehended in the Del Rio Sector and released into the U.S. with a notice to appear; however, he was terminated from ICE’s Supervision Appearance Program as an absconder—someone who got away—when he failed to report to an ICE office.
Two other gang members, Nixon Jose Azuaje Perez and Dixon Jose Azuaje Perez were both apprehended in Eagle Pass in August 2023 and released into the U.S. with a notice to appear. ICE has since placed a detainer on both men with local authorities.
Texas Department of Public Safety Spokesman Chris Olivarez wrote on X that although the gang may only account for a small percentage of crimes, they should not be here in the first place.
“Tren de Aragua (TDA) remains the single largest threat to public safety & national security as the gang has been able to infiltrate the US through the southern border. They have been involved in numerous crimes throughout the country, from thefts, robberies, assaults, sex crimes, extortion, and murder,” wrote Olivarez. “Some argue TDA accounts for a small percentage of violent crimes but the fact is that there should be ZERO crimes against the public as this gang should not have been able to expand their presence in the US as a result of catch & release policies. One victim is too many, one life lost at the hands of this criminal gang is inexcusable.”
“The State of Texas through [Gov. Greg Abbott’s] Operation Lone Star will not back down & remain committed to combating TDA & rid its presence in the Lone Star State. We must ensure public safety, not just for fellow Texans, but for the Nation,” he added.
Recently, it was reported that Dallas police have confirmed the Venezuelan gang has settled in North Texas and is committing heinous crimes within the community.
The gang is known for taking over an apartment complex in Aurora beginning in late 2023. They are also in Chicago, where members have been linked to narcotics and weapons charges.