Texas law enforcement, in collaboration with federal agencies, arrested more than 40 individuals suspected of ties to the Venezuelan transnational gang "Tren de Aragua" during a raid in Hays County, according to an announcement by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the FBI on Wednesday.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of narcotics. Officials did not specify where in Hays County the raids took place nor did it identify the people arrested or what narcotics were seized during the raid.
Through a statement on social media, the FBI's San Antonio office explained that it had developed intelligence in recent days regarding a possible gathering of suspected "Tren de Aragua" members or associates, going on to explain the operation in detail:
"Early Tuesday morning, the Hays County Sheriff's Office and DPS, working with the FBI, ICE Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations established sufficient cause to obtain a search warrant for a residence in Hays County, which was executed by DPS' Special Response Team. As a result of this operation, more than 40 individuals, including minors, were taken into custody at or near the residence, and narcotics were seized"
The statement also explained that the raid occurred after more than a year of investigation by authorities and that the case is currently under investigation as state and federal prosecutors are evaluating potential charges based on evidence obtained.
"Tren de Aragua" originated in Venezuelan prisons and has expanded its presence internationally, becoming a target of law enforcement agencies in multiple countries and the main reason behind President Trump evoking the controversial Alien Enemies Act a few weeks back.
Earlier in the week, a report by the ACLU disclosed the criteria used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to identify Venezuelan-born individuals as members of the "Tren de Aragua" gang. According to ICE documentation obtained by the organization, the criteria boils down to a scoring system applicable to undocumented Venezuelan migrants over the age of 14, which includes five categories: judicial outcomes, self-admission, criminal conduct, documents and communications, and symbolism.
Individuals scoring 6 or more points may be deemed members and subject to removal under the wartime Alien Enemies Act. Key factors include convictions related to TDA activity, self-identifying as a gang member, or communications with known members. The system also considers TDA-related symbols, such as tattoos or graffiti, which some detainees and their families argue are not gang identifiers but mere aesthetics.
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