Amid migrant surge, US fears escalate due to violent Venezuelan street gang.

A violent street gang from Venezuela, known as Tren de Aragua, has gained notoriety across the country due to its involvement in various crimes and its reported control of apartment buildings in Colorado.

Who are they?

The gang, which is believed to have originated in Venezuelan prisons, has gained notoriety in the U.S. this year due to several high-profile crimes linked to the gang. Many believe that the gang members arrived in the U.S. by crossing the southern border during the recent surge in migration.

In March, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) bulletin informed agents to be on the lookout for tattoos and other identifying marks of the gang, as federal authorities had previously warned that the gang was attempting to establish itself in the U.S. and could potentially collaborate with the violent MS-13 gang.

This year, Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, stated in an interview with Planet Chronicle Digital that the gang has caused violence in Central and South America.

"As the number of individuals crossing the border illegally increases, those with connections to Tren de Aragua are among them. Until the border crisis is resolved, the loopholes in our immigration system will continue to be exploited by bad actors," he stated.

What have they done?

In February, over 62 robberies in New York City were linked to a gang, and two suspected members of the gang were arrested for assaulting two NYPD officers.

Earlier in May, 10 migrants linked to the gang were arrested in Texas, and the brother of the suspect in the murder of Georgia student Laken Riley is also associated with the gang.

""Their criminal activities pose a grave danger to our communities," Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens stated at that time."

What’s happening in Colorado?

In Denver, TdA members have been given permission to shoot or attack law enforcement, as reported by Planet Chronicle Digital in July.

In recent times, there have been reports of a gang taking control of at least two apartment buildings in Aurora, with surveillance footage showing heavily armed men breaking down an apartment door. The mayor of Aurora stated on Planet Chronicle that there are "several buildings under out-of-state ownership that have been seized by these Venezuelan gangs."

The city claims that the media has exaggerated incidents in Aurora, stating that there is only a "small" presence in the city and that the incidents were isolated to a few problem properties.

The Aurora Police spokesman informed The Denver Post that it is too early to determine the extent of TdA's presence in Aurora. The city's statement emphasized that the police are still identifying criminals and making arrests, and residents have reported poor living conditions rather than a takeover in those properties.

Last week, Planet Chronicle reported that four suspected gang members arrested in Aurora this week for a July shooting were illegal immigrants who were released at the border, according to ICE's confirmation.

What is the federal government doing?

In July, the Treasury designated Tren de Aragua as a "significant transnational criminal organization," which resulted in the blocking of all property and assets owned by the gang in the U.S.

The State Department is offering up to $12 million for information leading to the arrest of three of the gang's leaders, while the administration is working to disrupt the gang and has increased vetting.

This week, former President Donald Trump brought attention to the issue of the gang during a Planet Chronicle town hall, which may increase pressure on senior border officials to prioritize it.

In Colorado, Aurora is being overtaken by Venezuelans who are seizing control of buildings and the entire town, as stated by him.