The violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua gang has been wreaking havoc in the U.S. and along the border with Mexico ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Reports emerged Thursday of a suspected Tren de Aragua member, José Gonzalez Roa, being arrested in California. Despite previous deportations, Roa managed to re-enter the U.S. multiple times and engaged in criminal activities across several states, including New York, Colorado, and California, where he is wanted for attempted murder, the New York Post reported.
Trump, who takes office on January 20, has prioritized deporting criminal immigrants and tasked the no-nonsense former acting border boss Tom Homan with serving as the incoming administration’s “border czar.”
“President Trump has been clear, as I’ve been clear from day one, the president is going to concentrate on public safety threats and national security threats,” Homan recently told CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
And he warned that Tren de Aragua gang bangers will be sent packing soon.
“We’re hoping that President Trump will work with Venezuela and like he did with Mexico and El Salvador, and get these countries take them back,” Homan added, referring to actions during Trump’s first term. “If they don’t, they’re still gonna be deported. They’re just gonna be deported to a different country. We’re not gonna be held up on removing public safety trust in this country.”
The incoming Trump team sees an urgent need to act quickly.
And on Monday, four Tren de Aragua members were apprehended at the Texas border. They attempted to blend in with asylum seekers to enter the U.S. illegally but were identified and arrested by Texas authorities.
The gang’s presence has been detected in multiple U.S. states, with members involved in various criminal activities, including violent crimes and recruitment efforts targeting vulnerable populations, such as children in migrant shelters. Law enforcement agencies are intensifying efforts to combat the gang’s influence and prevent further criminal activities.