Texas Gov Greg Abbott Designates Venezuelan ‘TdA’ Gang as Foreign Terrorist Organization, Launches Statewide Operation
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Monday the launch of a statewide operation targeting the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), designating the group as a “foreign terrorist organization.”
“Today in Houston, I designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization. Texas will aggressively target them to disrupt their criminal activities & deny their foothold in our state,” Abbott wrote in a post on X. “Texas is the wrong state for them to do business in.”
As part of this initiative, Abbott ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to classify Tren de Aragua as a Tier 1 gang and to create a specialized strike team. This team will focus on identifying and arresting members of the gang, which has reportedly expanded its operations within the US.
“The recent entry and expansion of the vicious Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, is a dangerous and deadly problem facing our state and nation,” Governor Abbott explained in a statement. “Our top focus is the safety and security of all Texans.”
“Our goal is to defend Texas from the growing threat of the gang. We will not let them use Texas as a base of operations to terrorize our citizens. They have a target on their back, and we are going after them,” he added.
Abbott made the announcement at a press conference in Houston, where he was joined by DPS Director Steve McCraw, Texas Border Czar Mike Banks, and National Border Patrol Council Vice President Chris Cabrera. McCraw compared TdA gang members to “cockroaches,” warning the gang multiplies quickly and that “small intrusions into communities become infestations if not aggressively pursued.” He described the gang as violent, adaptable, and involved in various criminal activities such as human smuggling, extortion, kidnappings, rape, assaults, and sex trafficking.
The new designation of Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization allows Texas to escalate its efforts against the gang, including using civil asset forfeiture to seize property linked to gang activities. It also enhances criminal penalties for those prosecuted for being involved with the gang.
Tren de Aragua made recent headlines when four of its members were arrested in Aurora, Colorado. The gang reportedly took over an apartment complex, where they were seen carrying firearms and allegedly forced tenants out, replacing them with migrants.
Governor Abbott’s crackdown is part of a broader effort to protect the state from the influence of violent criminal organizations, particularly those crossing into the US amid the growing crisis at the southern border.
