Overview

• President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to implement mass deportations targeting criminal organizations, including the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA).
• Tren de Aragua, a transnational gang tied to human trafficking, murder, and sexual exploitation, has expanded its presence in the U.S. in recent years, with over 600 members identified in at least 15 states.
• Former ICE Director Ronald Vitiello claims the gang's relatively recent establishment in the U.S. makes it vulnerable to swift dismantling under Trump's proposed policies.
• Recent high-profile crimes involving TdA include the murders of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Texas and 22-year-old Laken Riley in Georgia, both allegedly committed by undocumented gang members.
• Critics of the mass deportation plan raise concerns about its humanitarian impact, including family separations and increased fear among immigrant communities.