The roadmap to defeat the mega-gang Tren de Aragua, which is taking over US cities, is outlined in the article.

The Heritage Foundation has released a report providing a comprehensive analysis of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) and their activities in the U.S., which have been making headlines.

Joseph Humire, the report's author, claims that the threat America faces from Tren de Aragua is far greater than most people realize.

The report titled "Derailing the Tren de Aragua" provides U.S. leaders with a starting point to comprehend the violent criminal organization that was "refined and honed within Venezuelan prison walls before being exported throughout the Western Hemisphere."

Planet Chronicle Digital reported that Humire stated he hopes the report will provide the incoming Trump administration with a starting point on how to respond to and dismantle the TdA before it becomes more deeply entrenched within U.S. borders.

"To detect the motives, tactics, and overall strategy of organized crime associated with the TdA, a proper understanding of the TdA is necessary since it is unique among criminal organizations due to its ideology."

What is Tren de Aragua?

Tren de Aragua is not just a gang, but an organized international terrorist group supported by America's worst enemies, according to Humire, director of the Center for a Secure and Free Society and a Heritage Foundation fellow, who spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital.

In 2023, Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan prison escapee group, gained national attention in the United States after members of the group held an apartment building hostage in Aurora, Colorado.

Reports of violent crimes committed by Tren de Aragua members have spread rapidly, including the high-profile murders of nursing student Laken Riley in Georgia and 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston.

While American media and politicians have portrayed Tren de Aragua as a group of low-level thugs and criminals, Humire's report highlights that the organization is a state-sponsored transnational criminal group backed by and integrated into the Venezuelan socialist government.

The Venezuelan government, according to Humire, aids TdA's operations not only within Venezuela but throughout the Western Hemisphere, rather than preventing and deterring criminals and terrorists.

The Venezuelan government supports the claim that TdA has an intentional "invasion ideology" aimed at gaining territorial control of neighborhoods and regions in a matter of weeks, rather than the yearslong process taken by most gangs and transnational criminal organizations.

Why is Tren de Aragua spreading across the US?

Tren de Aragua is expanding more quickly than La Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13), and its unique origin and state sponsorship in Venezuela are likely reasons for this growth, according to Humire.

The Biden-Harris administration's immigration policies and lack of border enforcement have led to TdA's rapid expansion in the United States, according to him.

The Biden administration's Cuban, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans parole program has resulted in a significant increase in the Venezuelan population in the U.S. Since 2021, the Venezuelan population has grown by nearly 1 million, making it the fastest-growing nationality in the U.S. However, the program has also raised concerns about the lack of vetting for Venezuelan migrants being waved into the country en masse.

The report states that despite TdA being new to the U.S., it now has a presence in over 30 major cities and at least 100 federal investigations are underway, which has taken many U.S. law enforcement agencies by surprise.

How to ‘derail’ the train

In his first 100 days, Humire advised Trump to model after Texas' approach to combating gangs by fulfilling his pledge to launch "Operation Aurora," which would involve a coordinated effort among federal agencies such as the Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the military, in addition to state-led law enforcement and partnerships with Latin American allies to attack TdA from all angles.

According to the report, the main TdA leaders have not yet arrived in America, so it is urgent to take preventive measures.

Humire proposed that the Trump Department of Homeland Security classify TdA as a transnational terror group and categorize Venezuelan migrants as "special interest aliens." This would enable U.S. immigration officials to better scrutinize Venezuelan migrants, in contrast to the Biden administration's policy of welcoming them without thorough examination.

According to Humire, allowing asylum seekers to enter the US interior would not only safeguard American citizens but also validate those fleeing Venezuela.

"Venezuelan migrants will agree with this because they don't want to be infiltrated by Tren de Aragua, which is known to be brutal and dangerous."

What will Trump do?

Positive signs from the Trump transition indicate that the president-elect is committed to fulfilling his pledge to dismantle TdA.

"The appointment of the border czar early in the transition process was a clear indication that the new Trump administration prioritizes securing the border. Tom Homan, who was appointed as the border czar, is well aware of the transnational criminal organizations, including Tren de Aragua, that are threatening American sovereignty."

Evidence of a whole-of-government approach in the Trump administration includes the appointment of Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of state and Rep. Michael Waltz as national security adviser, as they recognize the threat of TdA and the need to address it immediately.

"The Biden administration had the necessary tools to tackle the issue, but they lacked political will. However, the new administration has a high level of political will to address the issue, with the president, appointees, and all throughout."