Tren de Aragua Declared Foreign Terrorist Organization Amid Rising U.S. Threat
Texas Governor Greg Abbott orders a statewide operation to combat the Venezuelan gang's spread and influence.
- Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang, has been linked to violent takeovers of properties in Colorado and Texas.
- Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) emphasized that Tren de Aragua poses a greater threat than MS-13, citing its expanding influence in major U.S. cities.
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the formation of a specialized strike team to target the gang, including SWAT teams and Texas Rangers.
- District Attorney Bill Hicks noted the difficulty in identifying Tren de Aragua members due to a lack of criminal records and tattoos.
- Federal and state law enforcement agencies are collaborating with international counterparts to create a new gang database to track Tren de Aragua activities.