The Trump administration has fixated on the narrative that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, or TdA, operates as a state-sponsored terrorist organization that poses a serious threat to the United States.
According to Donald Trump, this characterization justifies extreme enforcement measures against Venezuelan immigrants, perpetuating a sense of fear across the Venezuelan diaspora in the US.
Trump has claimed that TdA is conducting hostile actions and irregular warfare in the US, which could lead to the arrest and exile of Venezuelans, some potentially facing detention in Guantánamo Bay or El Salvador’s Cecot prison without due process.
However, experts contend that these claims do not accurately reflect the reality of TdA’s presence and activities, suggesting that the administration has fabricated a bogeyman to support its stringent immigration policies.
Tren de Aragua originated in Venezuela and has since expanded its reach to other countries in Latin America, paralleling the migration crisis affecting over 7.7 million Venezuelans fleeing Nicolás Maduro’s autocratic regime.
The gang’s early days can be traced back to 2005, when members of a trade union began embezzling funds and extorting contractors during a railroad project, leading to the formation of TdA in the Aragua region around 2014.
Within the infamous Tocorón prison, TdA established its headquarters, where leaders on the inside directed criminal activities externally until a government raid in 2023 led to fragmentation within the gang.
Some scholars argue that TdA is of modest prominence compared to more established gangs in Central and South America, such as MS-13 and Mexico’s drug cartels, which have a longstanding presence in the US.
Nonetheless, TdA has exerted enough influence to exploit vulnerable populations, particularly Venezuelan women, who often find themselves forced into the sex industry to repay debts after being smuggled to neighboring countries like Chile, Colombia, or Peru.
In addition to its domestic criminal activities, TdA has begun collaborating with Mexican cartels, engaging in human trafficking and extortion activities targeting immigrants.
The claim that Tren de Aragua has invaded the United States is disputed by various experts.
While the gang does have a presence in the US, analysts describe it as diffuse, uncoordinated, and considerably less impactful than the Trump administration’s assertions suggest.
Experts from the New York Times have explicitly stated, “Tren de Aragua is not invading America,” undermining the fear-driven narrative used to justify immigration crackdowns.
Despite this, individual members have caused real harm, as evidenced by incidents involving alleged TdA members committing violent acts, including the abduction and murder of a former Venezuelan police officer in Miami and the shooting of two police officers in New York.
These incidents have raised concerns about TdA’s activities in the US, particularly as they appear to import their sex-trafficking model, exploiting Venezuelan women who arrive in the country.
Despite the struggles within the organization, InSight Crime asserts that TdA is becoming weaker, operating more as a loose collection of franchises rather than a cohesive criminal entity.
Recent federal actions illustrate this diminishing influence.
US authorities announced charges against 27 individuals connected to TdA, related to crimes such as racketeering, sex trafficking, drug trafficking, and robbery.
Attorney General Pam Bondi suggested that these measures would significantly disrupt TdA’s structure and operations.
By late last year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was investigating over 600 Venezuelan immigrants in the US with suspected ties to TdA, yet the ambiguity surrounding their status as either victims, witnesses, or gang members raises crucial questions about how they are being treated.
This figure comprises less than 0.09% of the approximately 700,000 Venezuelans who have resettled in the United States, many of whom feel unjustly targeted.
The criteria used to link detainees and suspected individuals to TdA, such as hand signs, attire, or tattoos, have been criticized by gang researchers for lacking credibility as indicators of gang membership.
Moreover, legal challenges are mounting against the Trump administration’s immigration strategies, particularly the use of the wartime Alien Enemies Act (AEA).
Federal judges have questioned the validity of Trump’s claims of an “invasion” and the resultant policies, while the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has initiated lawsuits to combat the administration’s circumvention of due process rights.
As the narrative around Tren de Aragua evolves, the realities behind its purported operations and the implications for Venezuelan communities in America continue to unfold.
In conclusion, while TdA has indeed caused suffering, particularly for vulnerable populations, the portrayal of its presence as a coordinated threat to the US is increasingly viewed as exaggerated and harmful.
Amid this discourse, many Venezuelans in the US are left grappling with the repercussions of being unfairly associated with criminal activity, seeking recognition of their humanity and the challenges they have faced.
image source from：https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/27/what-is-tren-de-aragua-trump-venezuela
