Venezuelan street gang poses 'growing threat,' GOP governor responds with tough measures

On Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced new measures the Lone Star state is taking against Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang causing chaos in several US states.

Abbott declared the gang a foreign terrorist organization and established a database to verify if arrests are TdA members.

"We will utilize the full power of the government to stop the TdA," Abbott stated. "By classifying TdA as a foreign terrorist organization, Texas will employ the courts to halt their activities, seize their assets through civil forfeiture, and impose harsher criminal penalties to keep them imprisoned for extended periods."

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.

Recently, border officials informed Fox that they consider the gang a top priority, while officials in Dallas reported seeing gang activity in the north Dallas area linked to TdA. The gang gained notoriety due to reports of apartment building takeovers in Aurora, Colorado.

In July, TdA members were given permission to attack law enforcement in Denver, as reported by Planet Chronicle Digital. The Biden administration designated the group a "significant transnational criminal organization" in July and offered a reward of up to $12 million for information leading to the arrest of three of its leaders.

Abbott stated that the database under construction would focus on shared traits among gang members, such as tattoos, scars, criminal activities, and operational techniques.

TdA gang activity has been disrupted in El Paso as a hotel where they were active has been shut down.

On Tuesday, the official stated that strike teams were being established to intensify resources in regions where gang members are suspected to be operating. Earlier this year, more than 100 gang members were apprehended during a riot at the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso.

"Our objective as law enforcement in Texas is to safeguard our state from the escalating danger of TdA. We will not permit them to utilize Texas as a hub for terrorizing our residents. Texas stands for law and order, and I guarantee that law enforcement will have access to all the resources necessary to maintain public safety."