A specialist on the transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua (TdA) cautions that if sanctuary city and state policies persist, the United States could soon witness a surge in targeted assassinations.
Jose Gustavo Arocha, a senior fellow at the Center for a Secure Free Society and a former lieutenant colonel in the Venezuelan army, warns, "The next phase is targeted assassinations. This pattern has unfolded in Venezuela, is currently happening in Latin America, and will inevitably reach the U.S."
Originating in a Venezuelan prison a decade ago, TdA, meaning "Train from Aragua," has expanded its reach beyond Venezuela, establishing a strong presence in South American nations like Colombia, Peru, and Chile, and infiltrating 30 major U.S. cities.
This image features suspected Tren de Aragua members and the southern border. (Fox News/Border Patrol)
Arocha, who was imprisoned for eight months by Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro before fleeing the country, describes TdA as a "state-sponsored, Maduro regime organization" trained by the Venezuelan government to incite chaos and violence across the Western Hemisphere.
He emphasizes the urgency of immediate action: "If they are allowed to grow, they will become more entrenched in communities, making it harder and more painful for U.S. society to counter them." Arocha argues that recent movements to defund the police and establish sanctuary city and state policies embolden TdA, enabling their crimes to go unpunished. He warns that if these policies continue, TdA will spread across the U.S. like a "disease."
Alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang have reportedly taken over an apartment building in Aurora, Colorado, demanding rent in exchange for 'protection.' (Edward Romero)
Arocha draws parallels between the "defund the police" movement and the conditions that allowed TdA to thrive in Venezuela, stating, "The absence of rule of law and a weakened police force creates fertile ground for such organizations to establish control." He predicts that TdA will primarily target law enforcement officials, elected officials attempting to crack down on them, and enemies and refugees of the Maduro regime.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File)
Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, believes TdA assassinations have already begun in the U.S., citing the case of TdA member Yurwin Salazar, who allegedly murdered former Venezuelan police officer Jose Luis Sanchez Valera in Miami in November 2023, also stealing his life savings.
Vaughan concurs with Arocha on the detrimental impact of sanctuary policies, asserting, "Sanctuary policies must be abolished. Information sharing between local law enforcement and ICE is crucial." She points out that TdA's presence in sanctuary jurisdictions like Chicago, Colorado, and New York is no coincidence, as these policies shield them from immigration authorities.
ICE agents conduct an enforcement operation. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
While states like Texas have taken action against TdA, Vaughan emphasizes the need for a federally led, multi-agency approach to dismantle the group, stating, "The problem is too widespread for local solutions. Building stronger partnerships with local law enforcement, especially in sanctuary jurisdictions, is essential. The politically motivated barriers between local law enforcement and ICE must be removed."
