Governor Greg Abbott is right to target the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua

Texans will be pleased with Governor Greg Abbott's announcement this week that he has ordered state authorities to crack down on a Venezuelan gang known for extreme violence, extortion and human trafficking. Tren de Aragua has already overwhelmed several Latin American countries.

Government authorities are rightly taking this threat seriously. Members of the Tren de Aragua are suspected of serious crimes throughout the United States, including in Texas.

Preventive action is necessary. Law enforcement agencies should focus on organized crime before it gains a foothold. A violent group like this can spread quickly.

The timing of Abbott's announcement in the middle of a presidential election is odd, as news reports suggest U.S. law enforcement has known about the gang for months or even longer. But there is no doubt that the threat is real, even if the gang itself is not a household name in the United States.

Abbott warned Texans not to automatically view Venezuelan immigrants as gang members. That message is needed as former President Donald Trump amplifies conspiracy theories and rumors about immigrant communities. Far-right media outlets have pounced on a viral video in Aurora, Colorado, that purports to show a gang takeover of an apartment complex this summer. The apartments are home to many newcomers from Venezuela. The apartments are run-down and crime is rampant, but city authorities told reporters that the gang takeover was a lie.

There is evidence of gang activity in other communities as well. The shooting of two police officers in New York City and a spike in crime at an El Paso hotel have been linked to members of the Tren de Aragua gang.

Abbott's order will help Texas authorities track the activities of gang members by building a database and mobilizing a task force of state troopers, Texas Rangers and local law enforcement.

Tren de Aragua has moved with the Venezuelan diaspora, causing chaos in Colombia, Peru, and Chile. Gang members likely entered the U.S. during the surge of Venezuelan migrants across the southern border in 2022 and 2023.

The diplomatic dispute between the US and Venezuela worked to their advantage. There is no shared criminal database between the countries that would have helped US border officials screen Venezuelan entrants. Meanwhile, the Biden administration was slow to respond to the border crisis.

The United States already considers Tren de Aragua a transnational criminal organization, and Abbott has declared the group a foreign terrorist organization. South American countries also use this term for criminal syndicates.

Being designated as a terrorist in Texas means that gang members face increased penalties and civil sanctions.

Most immigrants try to earn an honest living and the vast majority stay away from criminal activities. There is also evidence that Tren de Aragua exploits itself by extorting other immigrants and trafficking women.

Texans should not make dangerous assumptions about immigrants, even though law enforcement should rightly remain vigilant against transnational gangs.

We welcome your opinion in a letter to the editor. Read the guidelines and Send your letter hereIf you have any problems with the form, you can send it by email to the following address: [email protected]