Federal and state authorities in Texas are targeting a violent Venezuelan migrant gang that is growing its presence in the Lone Star State. The Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol says his agents have arrested 70 members of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang - with the most recently announced arrest occurring last week in El Paso.
The Border Patrol says they arrested this "confirmed" member of the Tren de Aragua gang in El Paso on September 18, 2024.Photo byU.S. Border Patrol
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has also announced that DPS Special Agents arrested two Tren de Aragua gang members during a traffic stop in San Antonio. The San Antonio Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) were also involved. The two Venezuelan gang members have been sent to a federal detention center.
The DPS says they are "seeing TdA activity happening across the state." (The map below shows just a small sampling of the gang activity the DPS recorded.)
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announces a statewide operation targeting the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang. (September 16, 2024)Photo byOffice of Texas Governor Greg Abbott
"If [Tren de Aragua] is unchecked, it will just expand terror and carnage that TdA imposes in whatever country they've been in. That's why Texas stepped up to be the first state in the United States to say that Tren de Aragua is not going to be not only unwelcome here, but we will be seeking them, we will find them, and we will put them behind bars." -Texas Governor Greg Abbott
Toward that end, the Governor’s Public Safety Office is offering a reward of up to $5,000 "for information leading to the identification and arrest of known or suspected members of the dangerous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) who have been or are involved in criminal activity and pose an increasing danger to the public safety of Texans."
Texas is offering rewards for information about the identity of Tren de Aragua members and their activities in the state.Photo byTexas Department of Public Safety
To be eligible for the cash rewards, tipsters must provide information to authorities using one of the following methods:
Call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477)
Submit a tip online through the Texas Department of Public Safety
All tips are anonymous regardless of how they are submitted, and tipsters will be provided a tip number instead of using a name. Callers’ anonymity is guaranteed by law, and you could earn up to $5,000. The DPS cautions that fugitives should be considered armed and dangerous and "Texans should never try to apprehend a fugitive."
"Texas will not let these thugs use our state as a base of operations to terrorize our citizens. With the public’s help, combined with the hard work of federal, state, and local law enforcement, we will capture these dangerous gang members and put them behind bars for good.” -Texas Governor Greg Abbott
Are you worried about the presence of the violent Tren de Aragua gang in Texas?
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