Texas Declares Venezuelan Gang Tren de Aragua a Terrorist Organization

Governor Abbott takes aggressive measures to combat the criminal group amid rising political tensions over immigration.

Governor Greg Abbott has officially designated Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, allowing Texas law enforcement to seize assets linked to the gang.
The gang is accused of various crimes across the U.S., including human smuggling, drug trafficking, and violent assaults, particularly in cities like El Paso, Dallas, and Aurora, Colorado.
Texas has launched a statewide operation to target and arrest members of Tren de Aragua, with Governor Abbott offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to their capture.
The Biden administration has also imposed sanctions on Tren de Aragua, placing it alongside other notorious transnational criminal organizations like MS-13.
Republican leaders are using the gang's activities to criticize current immigration policies, arguing that weak enforcement allows such gangs to exploit migrants and commit crimes.