Governor Abbott Takes Bold Action in Response to Border Issues

Governor Greg Abbott’s designation of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as a “foreign terrorist organization” marks a significant step in Texas’ fight against border violence and crime.

At a Glance

Governor Abbott has declared the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization.
Tren de Aragua is involved in various criminal activities, including drug trafficking and human smuggling.
The designation aims to increase sentences and create a database to track gang members.
Abbott directed the establishment of a task force to combat the gang’s activities in Texas.

Abbott’s Response to Border Violence

Governor Greg Abbott’s latest move against entrenched criminal activities has led to the designation of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TDA) as a “foreign terrorist organization.” This decision follows a violent border clash earlier this year involving over 100 gang members. Texas law enforcement has been instructed to elevate TDA to a Tier 1 gang status and create a specialized strike team to target their operations in Texas.

The involvement of TDA in a wide range of crimes, from human trafficking to drug smuggling, has been a growing concern. This gang originated in a prison in Aragua, Venezuela, and has expanded its reach into Central America and several states in the U.S., including Texas, New York, and Wisconsin. Their activities have particularly targeted vulnerable migrant populations.

Today, I announced that Texas is aggressively targeting the dangerous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

I also designated them as a foreign terrorist organization.

We are a law-and-order state, and we will defend Texas from this threat.

More: https://t.co/4zQk0FPxmb pic.twitter.com/EUrn0z3qlO

— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) September 16, 2024

Implications of the Terrorist Designation

The declaration as a “foreign terrorist organization” enables authorities to levy increased sentences for crimes tied to TDA and imposes civil penalties aimed at curbing their operations. Governor Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to track gang members and implement mandatory minimum sentencing laws for related criminal activities. Additionally, Texas will leverage civil asset forfeiture to dismantle TDA’s financial networks.

“The recent entry and expansion of the vicious Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, is a dangerous and deadly problem facing our state and nation,” said Governor Abbott.

El Paso has seen significant TDA activity, with over 100 gang members recently arrested at the Gateway Hotel, leading to its shutdown. Since 2021, over 3,000 undocumented Venezuelans have been arrested in Texas for crimes linked to the gang. Governor Abbott has been vocal in attributing the surge in gang activity to what he perceives as lax immigration policies under President Joe Biden.

Broad Strategy and National Implications

The Texas Department of Public Safety will collaborate with local and federal law enforcement agencies to create a comprehensive database to monitor TDA’s activities. DPS Director Steve McCraw compared TDA’s infiltration tactics to cockroaches, highlighting the stealth and persistence of the gang’s members. The agency will employ highway patrol troopers, special agents, and Texas Rangers to ensure a multi-faceted approach against the gang.

“We will bring the full weight of the government against the TDA by declaring TDA a foreign terrorist organization,” Abbott said before signing the proclamation. “Texas will use the courts to halt their operations, use civil asset forfeiture to take their property, use enhanced criminal penalties to keep them in jail, behind bars for longer periods of time.”

Additionally, Texas has passed Senate Bill 1900 to officially define transnational drug cartels and criminal organizations as foreign terrorist organizations. Senate Bill 4 also introduced mandatory minimum sentences for smuggling people and enhanced penalties for stash house operations, further strengthening the state’s legal framework to tackle gang-related crimes.