EL PASO, Texas – Hector Gonzalez aspires to be a barber in New York City one day.

The 23-year-old from Venezuela is often seen wearing his black baseball cap backward and has tattoos adorning his left forearm.

Recently, these features—his youth, the backward cap, and tattoos—caught the attention of several El Paso Police officers. They instructed Gonzalez along with other young Venezuelan migrants to stop At a busy intersection in this border city, police officers, some masked with balaclavas, conducted checks on the men. They rummaged through their pockets and backpacks, asked them to raise their shirts, and questioned them about their tattoos, which included designs like roses, dice, and barbed wire.

The police stated they were looking for a suspect involved in a stabbing incident. However, they were also monitoring the presence of Tren de Aragua – a notorious Venezuelan street gang that has had members enter the United States along with many other migrants in recent years. This gang has become a significant issue in the ongoing U.S. presidential election.

In September, former President Donald Trump raised attention to the group and the border policies of the Biden-Harris administration during a presidential debate. He inaccurately asserted that members of a Venezuelan gang called Tren de Aragua had “taken over” cities in the U.S., including Aurora, Colorado.

The threat posed by Tren de Aragua, often referred to by law enforcement as “TdA,” has become a topic of concern.

As highlighted in numerous conservative discussions and gatherings, there have been portrayals of certain groups as violent criminals wreaking havoc in American cities. However, law enforcement authorities across the nation present a starkly different picture. They describe a group that is attempting to gain a presence in the U.S., characterized by limited numbers and activities that are minor compared to those of more established crime syndicates. Tren de Aragua, for instance, primarily engages in minor offenses like shoplifting and often targets fellow Venezuelan immigrants.YSL News conducted discussions with local and state law enforcement agencies in Texas, Colorado, and New York, as well as federal officials. They discovered that contrary to claims of “thousands” of TdA gang members, fewer than 135 confirmed gang members have actually been arrested based on interviews and police reports.

Federal authorities announced that in June, they started re-evaluating Venezuelan migrants who had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. These reassessments revealed approximately 600 individuals with suspected connections to Tren de Ar.agua – a collective made up of victims, their friends, witnesses to crimes, and others. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained under 30 individuals linked to gangs—two facing criminal charges while the remainder were taken in for immigration violations, as stated by DHS. Additionally, the agency has flagged another 100 individuals for further evaluation on an FBI “watch list.”

In a different report from DHS, U.S. Border Patrol captured 27 individuals during fiscal 2024 and 41 during fiscal 2023 at the U.S.-Mexico border associated with Tren de Aragua gang.

Since 2021, over 760,000 Venezuelans have come to the Southwest border in search of asylum due to severe political oppression and escalating violence in their country, as reported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Jason Savino, an assistant chief with the New York Police Department, mentioned that Tren de Aragua is still in the process of establishing its identity.

The detective bureau is monitoring the situation closely.

“They’re disorganized,” he noted. “Whenever they start to regroup, we manage to apprehend them.”

At a street corner in El Paso, police spoke to Gonzalez for a short time before allowing him to leave.

He observed as officers arrested two other Venezuelan individuals and took them away in a police vehicle.

“It’s always tense,” Gonzalez remarked. “Just because you have tattoos, people are quick to judge and label you as a criminal.”

Elon Musk Highlights Allegations of Venezuelan Gangs on X

In August, Elon Musk shared a video with his 202 million followers on his social media platform, X, accompanied by a single word: “Insane.”

Six men, some dressed in hoodies and others armed with handguns, along with one individual appearing to wield an assault rifle, ascended the stairs of an apartment complex. The initial report suggested that these individuals were members of the Tren de Aragua gang who had seized control of a building located in Aurora, a suburb near Denver.

The Tren de Aragua gang originated within Venezuela’s prison system in the central state of Aragua and has become notorious as one of the country’s most violent organizations. Their criminal activities primarily involve extortion, smuggling, and drug trafficking, as described by U.S. authorities.

The Treasury Department took action in July against a group, categorizing it as a “significant transnational criminal organization.”

As reported by Transparencia Venezuela, the local branch of Transparency International, this group has approximately 4,000 members spread across seven nations in Central and South America. Law enforcement agencies nationwide have indicated that they’ve apprehended individuals associated with Tren de Aragua for various offenses, including bold retail thefts and moped robberies in New York City.

A recent jewelry robbery occurred in Denver.

In comparison to other gangs that have emerged alongside migrant movements, Tren de Aragua is relatively minor. For example, Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13, which began in Los Angeles during the 1980s and expanded throughout Central America, boasts between 50,000 to 70,000 members worldwide. The top leaders of MS-13 have faced terrorism-related charges in the U.S.

“The gang is engaging in opportunistic crime, attempting to seize control of apartment complexes and extorting money, which is causing disturbances in these neighborhoods,” stated Peter Hermansen, a retired former director of Border Patrol’s Special Operations Group.

Less than a month after the video was released, the atmosphere at the Edge at Lowry apartment complex in Aurora was peaceful. Three-story red brick buildings stood tall like guardians, with slides and swings enhancing the front yards of nearby homes.

Children enjoyed playing soccer on the school fields to the south of the complex, while others had fun swinging on the monkey bars.Aurora police have taken one individual into custody and have issued warrants for five others involved in the incident captured in a viral video. These individuals are facing serious allegations, including first-degree burglary and menacing with a weapon.

Police have not yet identified the gang known as Tren de Aragua, according to reports.

However, Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain informed YSL News that authorities have pinpointed 10 individuals suspected of ties to Tren de Aragua, with nine of them already in custody.

Establishing gang affiliations poses difficulties for both Border Patrol and local law enforcement agencies due to the suspension of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Venezuela since 2019, leading to a lack of shared information between the two nations.

Chamberlain mentioned that the city is collaborating with Homeland Security and other federal entities to focus on individuals suspected of gang involvement, while also minimizing claims that the Tren de Aragua gang has completely taken control of the area.

“The city hasn’t been overtaken by gangs,” Chamberlain asserted. “Like in any large city, Aurora has gangs that existed prior to the arrival of Venezuelans, and we are actively addressing this issue.”

Scooter thefts and tattoos inspired by Michael Jordan

Increase in Retail Crimes Linked to Gang Activity in New York

In New York, law enforcement officials have observed a concerning surge in retail crimes and incidents of “scooter robberies.” These robberies involve individuals on fast-moving mopeds snatching belongings like cellphones and purses from unaware pedestrians. Authorities believe this increase is connected to the Tren de Aragua gang.

The gang members began arriving around two years ago, coinciding with a significant influx of Venezuelan migrants who traveled via charter buses organized by Texas Governor Greg Abbott from the Texas-Mexico border, according to Savino, the assistant chief of the detective bureau.

The rise in car thefts and armed robberies in New York has prompted the police department to send detectives to Colombia, which is close to Venezuela, to better understand the strategies used by the gang, according to Savino.

“We need to understand our adversary,” he stated.

Despite this troubling trend, Savino noted that Tren de Aragua has struggled to organize sufficiently and does not currently represent a significant threat compared to other gangs in New York. He mentioned that this group has been linked to fewer than five violent incidents over the last two years.

“They contribute to retail theft and crimes involving scooters,” he stated. “However, when it comes to violent acts, they are significantly less concerning.”

In Texas, the Department of Public Safety has created a database specifically for monitoring suspected gang members, who are frequently identified by their tattoos or other distinct features, according to Lt. Chris Olivarez, a spokesperson for the agency.

This system is separate from the Texas Gang Intelligence Database known as TxGANG, which uses similar criteria as those applied by the FBI’s gang unit.

Earlier this year, Border Patrol conducted a security briefing for directors of shelters in the El Paso area. During this meeting, intelligence specialists discussed the influence of Tren de Aragua within the United States, according to Michael DeBruhl, who is the director of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church migrant shelter in El Paso and a former Border Patrol agent with extensive experience.

The agents provided information on how to recognize gang members, including identifying specific tattoos such as those depicting trains or a five-point crown. Some members of Tren de Aragua are known to have tattoos of basketball star Michael Jordan or his jersey number #23, which is linked to a notorious neighborhood called 23 de Enero in Caracas.How many members of Tren de Aragua are documented in the Texas database, or if any gang affiliates have moved from Texas to cities like New York, Chicago, or Denver along with the thousands of Venezuelan migrants traveling on charter buses. Abbott’s Operation Lone Star has facilitated the transportation of over 119,000 migrants to various U.S. cities since 2022, with more than 19,000 arriving in Denver and close to 50,000 in New York City.

to her origins and childhood locations to strengthen her concluding appeal

Texas Governor: El Paso is the ‘epicenter’ of Venezuelan gang activity

With increasing reports of Tren de Aragua’s presence throughout the nation, all eyes have turned to El Paso. This border city is viewed by many law enforcement and local officials as a key entry point for this group into the United States.

In early September, Christina Sanchez, the County Attorney for El Paso, initiated a lawsuit against t

The owners of the Gateway Hotel in central El Paso are attempting to close the establishment, citing numerous public safety concerns and other problems. The lawsuit claims that the hotel, which serves low-income residents and migrants, has also attracted members of Tren de Aragua.

Shortly after this lawsuit was filed, Abbott labeled the gang as a “foreign terrorist organization” and instructed state law enforcement to target its members. In a press conference where this decision was announced, Abbott along with Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw described El Paso as “ground zero” for criminal activity and stated that it was heavily affected by such issues.

“If you spend time with some migrant victims living in this country,” McCraw stated, “you’ll realize that the governor has accurately highlighted the issue.”

Officials from both the City of El Paso and the county have expressed their concerns.

Sanchez further explained her earlier statements.

In the lawsuit, it is important to clarify that we never claimed the hotel was taken over by any gang or group of individuals,” she stated.

Vanessa Tena, a representative of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, which oversees the jail, mentioned that deputies have not made any arrests related to individuals tied to the gang. She noted that while the gang may have initially used El Paso as a route into the U.S., they have likely moved on to other locations.

“We believe only a small number remain in El Paso; however, they are very cautious and do not openly identify themselves as members,” she added in her statement.

No gang presence at migrant shelters

Recently, at the now-closed Sacred Heart shelter in central El Paso, located just five blocks from the border, around 20 migrant families gathered inside a spacious former basketball gym. They were busy filling out work permit applications or using their phones to connect with family members in different cities.

This quiet atmosphere contrasts sharply with earlier this year when the gym was packed with hundreds of migrants.

According to Ruhl, the director of the shelter, stricter measures implemented by Mexico and Panama, along with President Biden’s directive limiting asylum access, have contributed to a decline in the number of individuals seeking refuge.

Between December 2022 and October 2024, Sacred Heart provided shelter or assistance to over 30,000 migrants, primarily from Venezuela, according to DeBruhl from the organization.

DeBruhl, who oversees a shelter at the Heart Catholic Church, noted that he has never identified any members of Tren de Aragua among the individuals seeking assistance there. Furthermore, none of the migrants he has helped have reported any incidents involving this group.

“We have found no evidence whatsoever of Tren de Aragua members in our facility,” DeBruhl stated.

According to Mike Tapia, an associate professor specializing in criminal justice at Texas A&M University-Commerce and author of “Gangs of the El Paso-Juarez Borderland: A History,” it would be difficult for Tren de Aragua to establish a presence in cities like El Paso or Chicago due to existing gangs with well-established and profitable illegal operations.

In El Paso, gangs like Barrio Azteca collaborate with Mexican cartels in Ciudad Juárez for smuggling operations involving both people and drugs. According to Tapia, the emergence of a Venezuelan gang seeking to enter this arena could lead to intense violence over territory, but that hasn’t occurred yet.

Tapia criticized Abbott’s claims about the gang’s expansion in Texas as exaggerated.

“There simply isn’t enough of that market to share,” he stated.

‘Our Differences Matter’

Right across from the shelter where Hector Gonzalez was interrogated, the police presence had dissipated. A small group of young Venezuelans gathered beneath a slender tree, sharing their experiences of traveling to the United States.

On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, Emerson Linares was sitting on the sidewalk across from Sacred Heart Church in El Paso, Texas, alongside other migrants. He mentioned that he had been handcuffed by the El Paso Police and taken away in a police car but was later released. Emerson reflected on how his tattoos—especially one on his face and others that crawl up his arms—made him more noticeable and a target for attention.

A nun with a menacing demeanor was seen smoking a cigarette.

A 23-year-old former graphic designer reflected on his past choices, describing his tattoos—a skull on one arm and a stoned chicken with a surfboard on the other—as “foolish, impulsive actions” that hold no significance for him.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez shared that he left Venezuela back in 2019 due to escalating street violence. After spending some years in Colombia, he made the journey across the U.S.-Mexico border five months ago and voluntarily approached Border Patrol agents.

He went through an initial screening process and was later released with a court date scheduled for 2028.

Gonzalez mentioned that he is currently working towards saving money to reach New York, carrying only a Clippers, a razor, and a chair to restart his career as a barber, just like he used to do in Venezuela.

At this moment, he found himself stuck in this border town, relying on his instincts for survival. A tattoo on his left forearm encapsulated his philosophy.

In elegant cursive script, it read: “LOVE.”

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