The notorious Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA), known for its violent activities, has infiltrated New York City, establishing a presence amidst the general population. A recent raid on a Bronx apartment building, situated alarmingly close to a daycare center, exposed this unsettling reality. Law enforcement, comprising Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the NYPD’s federal task force, apprehended several suspected TdA members within the building. Simultaneously, another raid in Brooklyn resulted in the arrest of additional suspected gang members, bringing the total number of arrests to 29. The proximity of the Bronx operation to the Doña Juana Day Care, with children present inside during the raid, underscores the potential danger posed by the gang’s presence within the community.
The infiltration of TdA into the United States is largely attributed to the perceived laxity of border security under the Biden-Harris administration. Numerous gang members have reportedly exploited this vulnerability, crossing into the country and subsequently wreaking havoc in unsuspecting communities. TdA’s criminal activities span a wide spectrum of violent offenses, including homicides, assaults on law enforcement officers, robberies, and the illicit trafficking of firearms into migrant shelters. These activities paint a disturbing picture of a gang emboldened by its ability to operate within the US.
The Bronx raid was initiated after authorities tracked the ankle monitor of a suspected TdA member, Jarwin Valero-Calderon, to the apartment building near Crotona Park. Valero-Calderon’s criminal history reveals a pattern of illegal activity following his entry into the US via Eagle Pass, Texas, in 2022. Despite being released with a court date and subsequently ordered deported, he remained at large, accumulating charges for larceny in New York and New Jersey, as well as fraud and resisting arrest in Florida. His case illustrates the challenges faced by law enforcement in tracking and apprehending individuals who exploit weaknesses in the immigration system.
The arrests in the Bronx and Brooklyn raids included several other suspected TdA members with criminal records. Among them were Angel Gabriel Marquez Rodriguez, with previous arrests for shoplifting in Chicago and larceny in New York City, and Jhonaiker Alexander Gil Cardozo, apprehended multiple times in New York City for grand larceny, reckless endangerment, and robbery. The repeated arrests of these individuals, despite their prior offenses, raise concerns about the effectiveness of the current system in preventing repeat offenders from continuing their criminal activities.
The increasing presence of TdA in New York City has prompted calls for greater collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ meeting with incoming border czar Tom Homan signals a potential shift towards stricter enforcement and cooperation with ICE. However, this stance has encountered resistance from some Democrats who prioritize protecting the rights of immigrants, even those with criminal records. This tension highlights the ongoing debate regarding the balance between public safety and the rights of individuals within the immigration system.
New York City Council Member Joe Borelli and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis have voiced strong support for increased cooperation between the NYPD and ICE to address the TdA threat. They argue that the gang’s activities, including recruitment within the migrant community and the terrorizing of vulnerable populations, necessitate a more robust response. Borelli has called for the repeal of city laws that restrict NYPD cooperation with ICE, while Malliotakis has criticized Democrats for weakening laws that inadvertently allow criminal organizations to operate freely within New York City. These calls for change reflect the growing concern about the impact of criminal gangs on the city’s safety and security. The capture of two TdA members involved in a highly publicized apartment invasion in Aurora, Colorado, further underscores the gang’s reach and the need for a coordinated law enforcement effort to combat their criminal activities.
