The transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua, originating in Venezuela, has rapidly expanded its operations across the United States, using the Venezuelan migrant crisis to establish a foothold in at least 20 states, according to experts and law enforcement reports.
At a glance:
- Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang, has infiltrated at least 20 U.S. states by exploiting migrant flows and sanctuary city policies.
- The gang’s operations include drug trafficking, human smuggling, extortion, and petty crimes like phone theft and shoplifting.
- Federal agents recently arrested seven members in a Bronx raid, including migrants with extensive criminal histories.
- Experts warn the gang is learning from groups like MS-13 and the Trinitarios, evolving quickly and diversifying its criminal activities.
Founded over a decade ago in Venezuela, Tren de Aragua initially operated by extorting contractors and controlling labor at a railroad construction site in Aragua state. It gained strength in Tocorón prison, under the leadership of Héctor “the Child” Guerrero, who remains at large after a negotiated escape in 2023.
Experts describe Tren de Aragua’s expansion as “unusually rapid.” Luis Izquiel, a criminology professor at the Central University of Venezuela, noted that the gang operates like an adolescent organization with adult-level sophistication, exploiting “illicit economic opportunities” in areas it infiltrates.
Unlike traditional cartels, Tren de Aragua’s criminal portfolio includes a mix of high-level drug trafficking and low-level crimes such as phone and wallet theft. “They can engage in drug trafficking, profit from migration, own gold mines in Venezuela, but also steal handbags and phones,” said Chilean crime expert Pablo Zeballos.
Infiltration into the U.S.
Federal law enforcement agencies have confirmed the gang’s presence in at least 20 states, with notable activity in sanctuary cities like New York City. Recent reports reveal that the gang has recruited members from tax-funded migrant shelters and established operations in tourist-heavy areas such as Times Square.
In a Dec. 5 raid in the Bronx, federal agents arrested seven suspected Tren de Aragua members, including individuals with lengthy criminal histories and deportation orders. Among those apprehended were migrants who had entered the U.S. under asylum claims, later disappearing and reemerging with multiple criminal charges.
One of the suspects, Jarwin Valero-Calderon, was arrested after federal agents tracked his court-ordered ankle monitor to the gang’s hideout. Despite previous arrests for fraud and larceny, he had managed to evade deportation multiple times.
The gang’s juvenile offshoot, “Diablos de la 42,” has also drawn attention for orchestrating petty crimes, with members as young as 11 exploiting lenient juvenile justice laws.
Learning from other gangs
Tren de Aragua has distinguished itself by adapting tactics from established gangs like MS-13 and the Trinitarios while avoiding their mistakes. Retired FBI agent Daniel Brunner explained that the gang has mirrored MS-13’s expansion model by targeting Venezuelan migrant communities for extortion and recruitment.
“They learn much quicker,” Brunner noted, adding that the gang’s flexibility and ability to adapt to local criminal opportunities have fueled its rapid growth.
The gang’s activities extend beyond traditional organized crime. Tren de Aragua has been implicated in human trafficking, controlling migration routes across Latin America and into the U.S. The BBC reported that the gang monetizes every stage of the migration journey, turning asylum seekers into economic assets.
“What remains to be seen is what exactly they are doing in the United States and what their objective is,” said Venezuelan journalist Ronna Rísquez.
Tren de Aragua’s presence has raised alarms among U.S. law enforcement agencies, who are struggling to contain its influence. Critics argue that lax immigration and criminal justice policies have allowed the gang to exploit systemic vulnerabilities.
“This is what actual supervised release looks like?” a law enforcement source remarked, highlighting failures in monitoring migrants with criminal records.
As federal and local authorities intensify efforts to dismantle Tren de Aragua’s U.S. operations, experts warn that its adaptability and diverse criminal strategies pose a long-term threat to public safety. The gang’s rise underscores the intersection of migration, organized crime, and policy gaps in addressing transnational criminal organizations.
