Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua expands to 16 U.S. states, Homeland Security warns

Growing presence across the U.S.

Tren de Aragua (TdA), a violent Venezuelan prison gang, has established footholds in at least 16 states, according to an internal Homeland Security memo. The gang’s expansion now covers areas containing half of the U.S. population, with recent activity noted in Washington, DC, Virginia, Montana, and Wyoming.

Criminal operations spreading with migration

The memo highlights a correlation between the gang’s growth and increasing Venezuelan migrant populations. TdA members embed within migrant waves entering the U.S., often using fraudulent IDs to avoid detection. Their activities include theft, robbery, fraud, human trafficking, and violent assaults, with funds frequently funneled back to Venezuela to support further criminal enterprises.

A national footprint

Tren de Aragua is active in states such as California, Florida, Texas, New York, and Tennessee, among others. The gang has been linked to crimes ranging from sex trafficking to drug smuggling, with notable operations in areas like Queens, New York, and cities across Tennessee.

Financial crimes and violent acts

The memo cites incidents of financial fraud, such as a TdA member withdrawing $118,000 from a Florida bank account through fraudulent check deposits before wiring the money to Venezuela. In New York, gang members have reportedly engaged in shootings, assaults, and gun smuggling, while Tennessee officials connect TdA to human trafficking and violent confrontations with cartels.

Limited tools for detection and deportation

The lack of information-sharing between the U.S. and Venezuela has made identifying and deporting TdA members challenging. The strained relationship with Venezuela’s Maduro regime further complicates efforts, as deportation flights for Venezuelan nationals are frequently refused.

Trump vows crackdown

President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to prioritize dismantling TdA’s operations, promising a mass deportation effort involving ICE and the U.S. military.

A growing threat in unexpected places

While the gang’s activities are most prominent in Democratic strongholds like New York and California, they have also surfaced in less-expected areas like Wyoming. Authorities remain on high alert, monitoring suspected members even in states where the gang has not yet established a significant presence.

As Tren de Aragua’s violent tendencies escalate, federal and local law enforcement face mounting pressure to address the gang’s growing influence and its devastating impact on communities across the country.