WASHINGTON — A significant legal move was made as the Justice Department charged a purported high-ranking member of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang from Colombia with various terrorism-related offenses. This marks the first instance of such charges against a member of this gang, which the Trump administration has categorized as a foreign terrorist organization.
This action is part of a broader initiative to address criminal activities associated with the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua. The gang, noted for its involvement in drug trafficking and violence, particularly within the United States, has been a target in former President Donald Trump’s stringent immigration enforcement efforts. The Trump administration previously labeled Tren de Aragua as an invading force, invoking an 18th-century wartime law that aims to deport Venezuelan migrants by linking them to a heightened national security threat.
The Justice Department’s application of a criminal statute typically reserved for notorious extremist organizations like the Islamic State and al-Qaida illustrates its commitment to a wide-reaching definition of terrorism. This broad perspective is part of its national security strategy concentrating on combating both drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the seriousness of the charges, stating, “TdA is not merely a street gang; it is a meticulously organized terrorist organization that established its presence in the United States during past administrations.” She further declared that the current charges mark a pivotal step in the Justice Department’s efforts to prosecute and ultimately dismantle this malevolent organization, which has caused significant harm to American families and communities through its operations.
Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, aged 24, faces charges in a Texas federal court for drug-related crimes, alongside allegations of conspiracy to provide and the provision of material support to a recognized foreign terrorist organization. Authorities identified him as being a part of the “inner circle of TdA leadership” and accuse him of being actively involved in the international cocaine distribution networks.
Currently detained in Colombia, Martinez Flores is awaiting subsequent legal proceedings and could potentially be sentenced to life imprisonment. The use of the material support statute by the Justice Department serves as a favored approach in prosecuting individuals suspected of assisting a militant organization, albeit not directly engaging in violent acts themselves.
Inclusion of TdA in the State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations equips the Justice Department with legal grounds to pursue charges against those believed to support the gang. This announcement follows closely on the heels of another significant development, wherein prosecutors unveiled their first-ever federal racketeering charges against a Venezuelan street gang, using legal strategies historically applied to dismantle organized crime entities like the Mafia.