A new report from the Heritage Foundation shines a spotlight on a dangerous Venezuelan gang called Tren de Aragua (TdA), which has been making headlines for its violent crimes in the U.S. The report, titled “Derailing the Tren de Aragua,” warns that the threat this gang poses to America is much bigger than most people realize. The author of the report, Joseph Humire, believes that the U.S. is facing a serious problem, one that could grow even worse if action isn’t taken soon.
So, who exactly is Tren de Aragua? Unlike most gangs, TdA is not just a group of criminals; it’s a highly organized, state-backed terrorist organization. Born in Venezuelan prisons more than a decade ago, this gang is spreading across the Western Hemisphere, bringing violence and terror wherever it goes. The report argues that TdA’s operations are not just limited to crimes, but also part of a broader political agenda supported by the Venezuelan government. It’s a criminal group with a mission: to destabilize regions and take control of neighborhoods in record time, often in a matter of weeks rather than years.
The gang started making waves in 2023 when members took over an entire apartment building in Aurora, Colorado, holding hostages and terrorizing residents. Since then, their crimes have spread, with shocking murders, including the tragic deaths of nursing student Laken Riley in Georgia and 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston. But while American media has focused on these violent acts, Humire’s report warns that there’s much more to this story—this gang is part of a larger, state-sponsored effort to create chaos.
Humire explains that the Venezuelan government has supported TdA’s expansion, not just in Venezuela but across the Americas. With the backing of the government, TdA has grown rapidly and is now present in over 30 major U.S. cities. Law enforcement agencies in the U.S. were caught off guard by the gang’s swift growth, with over 100 investigations into TdA already underway. Humire believes the Biden administration’s failed immigration policies, particularly the mass entry of Venezuelan migrants, have helped this gang spread so quickly. Many of these migrants enter the U.S. with little to no vetting, allowing TdA members to easily infiltrate.
So why is this gang growing so fast? Unlike other notorious gangs like MS-13, which have been around for decades, TdA has a much quicker expansion rate. Humire argues that this is because of the gang’s unique origins and support from the Venezuelan government. The gang’s “invasion ideology” allows it to rapidly seize control of territories and spread its influence.
To stop this growing threat, Humire suggests that U.S. leaders need to act fast. He points to Texas as an example of how states can fight back by using federal resources, including Border Patrol and the military, to tackle the gang’s operations. The report urges the incoming Trump administration to take immediate action by labeling TdA a transnational terror group and tightening immigration policies to prevent further infiltration.
Humire believes that the Trump administration has the political will to deal with this threat, unlike the Biden administration, which he claims failed to act in time. He points to recent signs, such as the appointment of a border czar, as a positive step toward addressing the issue. The report stresses that the leaders of TdA may not have arrived in the U.S. yet, which means that the window of opportunity to dismantle the gang is closing fast.
As dangerous as this situation is, Humire argues that it’s not just a threat to U.S. citizens—it’s also a danger to the Venezuelan migrants who are fleeing the violence in their own country. Many of them don’t want to be associated with TdA, and they support measures to stop the gang’s spread.
The report concludes with a call for urgent action. If the U.S. doesn’t act now, the Tren de Aragua gang could continue to grow and spread terror across the country. The time to stop it is now—before it’s too late.
