Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua takes over Texas hotel, county officials work to shut down business

A Texas hotel could face closure after receiving 693 emergency calls to police in just two years regarding suspected illegal and gang-related activity on the premises, court documents show.

The Gateway Hotel has received a temporary and permanent injunction from the El Paso County District Attorney's Office to cease operations after it was found to be engaging in “habitual criminal activity.”

“The large number of 911 calls for a single business and the state's analysis of police reports demonstrate that habitual criminal activity in violation of the CPRC is occurring at the Gateway and that other crimes are being committed that contribute to the general blight that this business brings upon downtown El Paso,” the El Paso District Attorney's complaint states.

Alleged members of the Tren de Araga gang in Aurora, Colorado, released on $1,000 bail

It was only on August 23 that police documented the presence of the transnational gang Tren de Aragua in the Gateway Hotel building, which the district attorney described as “extremely worrying.”

A note from the officer from that day states: “I noticed Venezuelans coming out of a room and cooking fumes coming out of the room. The fire marshals had already warned them that they were not allowed to cook in their room. They said they had permission. The man had a tattoo that ran all the way through [sic] with the Tren De Aragua Gang.

Officers also noted that the property may be a site of prostitution, drug use, gang activity and illegal dumping, according to the complaint.

The Gateway Hotel had only been permitted a conditional use of the property, which included only the lobby and ground floor, until 2018. For the past six years, it has operated without a valid use permit and in direct violation of City of El Paso requirements.

A one-star review of the Gateway Hotel on Yelp states: “An incredibly dirty, drug and vermin infested fire trap!”

The hotel, built in 1903, has failed at least three fire inspections since July. A serious assault that occurred at the Gateway on June 16, 2024, demonstrated “the deplorable condition of the building's interior,” according to the El Paso County District Attorney's Office.

Police: Members of the Tren de Araga gang arrested in Aurora, Colorado, in connection with the takeover of an apartment building

“A video showing the deplorable condition of the building's interior and the type of activities allowed inside the business stems from an aggravated assault case. The video shows dozens of people 'partying' on the 3rd floor of the hotel, drinking, smoking, and dancing provocatively while children are present,” the complaint states. “The video also shows at least one gun being fired, another being used to make threats, men with knives, and another man with an axe attacking people and causing damage to the hotel in full view of a security officer.”

The Tren de Aragua's criminal activities at the Gateway Hotel in El Paso follow a dangerous trend of building takeovers across Colorado.

“I hosted a roundtable discussion in Aurora, Colorado last week to expose the truth about the Tren de Aragua gang's home takeover and the crimes they are committing in our communities,” Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert told Fox News Digital. “The fake news media and liberal politicians want Americans to believe this crisis isn't real, but the gang's activities aren't limited to Colorado, they are committing crimes in other states, including Texas and New York.”

Tren de Aragua is a transnational gang based in Venezuela with around 5,000 members. The gang is known for its illegal drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and possession of unlicensed firearms. Some of the gang members in the United States are illegal immigrants.

“I am grateful to our law enforcement for overseeing this successful operation. Every day, Tren de Aragua is gaining ground in our country, and El Paso is clearly in the market for this dangerous gang,” Congressman Tony Gonzales told Fox News Digital. “That is why I have pushed hard to designate TDA as a transnational criminal organization and provide more resources to security agencies so they can shut down their operations. El Paso has historically been one of the safest cities in our country, and I am committed to continuing to do so.”

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Source of the original article: Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua takes over Texas hotel, county officials work to shut down business