Texas hotel faces legal action over alleged 'Tren De Aragua' gang activity, violations

The Gateway Hotel in downtown El Paso and its owner, Howard Yun, were issued a temporary injunction and restraining order by the El Paso County Attorney on Monday, citing alleged criminal activity and suspected presence of members of the "Tren De Aragua" gang.

County Attorney Christina Sanchez filed for the abatement of a common nuisance and temporary legal action against the hotel, which has been operating without a valid certificate of occupancy for six years.

The hotel also failed at least three inspections by the El Paso Fire Department since July, violating city requirements.

The Tren de Aragua is a Venezuelan mega-gang that originated in the state of Aragua and is led by Héctor "Niño" Guerrero, with its operations based in Tocorón prison. Classified as a mega-gang, with over 100 members, the group is active in at least six Venezuelan states and has expanded its presence internationally to countries like Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and the United States. Since 2020, the gang's activities abroad have grown significantly, according to InSight Crime.

This report out of El Paso comes just a week after Dallas Police confirm the presence of the same Venezuelan gang here in Dallas.

The Dallas Police Department confirms to the DailyMail.com that the Tren De Aragua gang is operating in North Texas. This notorious South American gang, known for sex trafficking and targeting fellow Venezuelans, entered the U.S. with asylum-seeking migrants. Their criminal activities now stretch from Miami to New York. Recently, gang members were caught on video in Aurora, Colorado, storming an apartment complex with assault rifles.

LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube