Venezuelan officials warn that the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang escaped from prison last year and could be hiding in the United States. The Venezuelan gang is exploiting the migratory surge at the United States border, and the FBI warns it is likely making alliances with the violent Salvadoran gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13).
According to veteran FBI agent John Morales, a special agent in charge of the El Paso division in Texas, amidst the growing violence in the United States, MS-13 and other dangerous gangs could form a temporary alliance.
“Although these gangs normally do not mix, it will always be a concern as the [Tren de Aragua] band grows stronger and establishes a foothold,” Morales explained. “At this moment, we are working with our local law enforcement partners and sharing intelligence to stop the growth of the Tren de Aragua.”
Members of these two criminal groups have been detected in U.S. cities such as Baltimore, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, and Chicago, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Immigration officials say that criminals are illegally remaining in the U.S. after they are released from immigration detention centers, committing violent crimes, including murders.
Between October 2022 and September 2023, Border Patrol agents detained 41 members of the Tren de Aragua along the southern border, and now FBI agents are asking Venezuelan migrants to report gang members in exchange for witness protection and temporary visas.
