Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezeulan gang, has a recorded presence in at least 19 states as of December — up from 16 states last month.
Fox News Digital has reported that there have been documented cases of Tren de Aragua (TdA) activities in several states across the United States, including New York, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Illinois, California, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Louisiana, Virginia, North Carolina, and more recently in Maryland, North Dakota, Arizona, and Utah.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has labeled TdA as a Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO), referring to it as “a violent transnational criminal gang originating from Venezuela.”
According to information provided to Fox News Digital by DHS, every individual processed by the agency at the border undergoes thorough scrutiny to ensure national security and public safety. Those flagged as potential risks are either denied entry, detained, deported, or handed over to other federal authorities for further examination or legal action. DHS has also introduced heightened screening measures at the border to identify confirmed or suspected gang affiliates, including members of TdA.
Aurora police shared they feel they need more assistance from the federal government to address the Tren de Aragua crime problem. (@AuroraPD via X)
Canyon County, Idaho Sheriff Kieran Donahue told a reporter in September that he had received intelligence “regarding TdA traveling across Idaho to commit crimes.”
“Thankfully, to my knowledge, there have been no confirmed reports of TdA activity in Canyon County or elsewhere in the Treasure Valley. That said, I believe that TdA is a very dangerous gang, and national reports show they are growing rapidly, so it stands to reason we will eventually see them in Idaho,” Donahue said.
Rep. Nehls said in his statement to Fox News Digital that Americans “definitely have a right to be concerned about Tren de Aragua’s growing presence in our country.”
“The sad reality is the Biden Administration knows that violent criminals are coming into our country; they just don’t care. And that’s exactly why the American people voted overwhelmingly to send President Trump back to the White House,” Nehls said. “I look forward to working with President Trump, Tom Homan, and Kristi Noem to secure our borders and make America safe again.”
Individuals confirmed or suspected to be gang members are required to be referred for criminal prosecution or placed into Expedited Removal and detained, according to DHS. Federal officials are working with law enforcement to crack down on TdA and enhance public safety, the department said.
