Four members of the Tren de Aragua were apprehended while attempting to illegally cross the Texas border, according to Governor Abbott.

According to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, four members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) were caught attempting to enter the U.S. illegally through the southern border.

On New Year's Eve, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) apprehended 22 suspected illegal migrants in Val Verde County, including four members of TdA.

Abbott stated that the safety and security of Texans, including protection against the increasing danger of Tren de Aragua, is our top priority.

The 22 migrants arrested by Abbott's administration are from Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. Of these, 11 were charged with criminal trespass, while the rest were family groups and were referred to Border Patrol for processing.

Nine Venezuelan nationals, including four members of the TdA gang, were found to have gang affiliation through social media apps and tattoos, according to Abbott.

The four individuals were identified as Segundo Ocando-Mejia, 39; Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo, 27; Antonio Joe Urruttia-Rojas, 18; and Levi Jesus Urrutia-Blanco, 18.

Abbott stated that Ocando-Mejia's tattoos on his shoulders suggest that he might hold a leadership position within the gang.

Abbott designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organization and launched a statewide operation in September to aggressively target them, disrupting their criminal activities. He instructed DPS to classify TdA as a Tier 1 gang and established a TdA Strike Team to identify and apprehend TdA gang members.

Abbott stated that he would not permit the gang to establish a presence or gain any ground in Texas.

The New York Post reported in November that a Homeland Security memo stated the gang was active in at least 16 states and had been involved in various violent crimes, including murders, shootings of police officers, assaults, robberies, and gun smuggling into migrant shelters.

"As long as President Trump is not back in the White House, Texas will continue to apprehend dangerous criminals like TdA and imprison them to safeguard Texans from this violent gang," Abbott stated.

Abbott declared that his Public Safety Office is providing a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification and apprehension of TdA gang members involved in criminal activities.

In New York City, 22 TdA gang members were arrested in two raids, and now the news has broken just days after that.

A law enforcement source tells Planet Chronicle that several gang members were caught hiding out in a Bronx apartment building near a daycare center, highlighting the gang's presence in the sanctuary city.