4 Tren de Aragua gang members arrested at Texas border, Gov. Abbott says
Four people believed to be members of the gang Tren de Aragua were arrested attempting to cross the border into Texas on New Year's Eve, according to Governor Greg Abbott.
What We Know: Texas DPS troopers in Val Verde County spotted a group of 22 people attempting to cross the Texas-Mexico border illegally.
11 were arrested for criminal trespass. Family groups were referred to Border Patrol for processing.
READ MORE: Texas puts up billboards in Mexico, Central America to warn migrants about trip to U.S.
Among the 11 arrested, nine were Venezuelan nationals claiming they were heading to San Antonio, Irving and Corsicana.
Based on interviews and their tattoos, agents believe four of the men were members of the gang Tren de Aragua.
Investigators say a search of the men's cell phones verified their gang affiliation through their social media apps.
(Source: Texas Department of Public Safety)
Segundo Ocando-Mejia, 39, Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo, 27, Antonio Joe Urruttia-Rojas, 18, and Levi Jesus Urrutia-Blanco, 18, were arrested.
The governor's office says that Ocando-Mejia had tattoos that may indicate he "may hold rank or leadership within the gang."
Tren de Aragua
The Backstory: Texas Governor Greg Abbott has targeted Tren de Aragua in recent months.
The governor designated the Venezuelan gang as a foreign terrorist organization.
Texas has established TdA strike team, designed to arrest gang members within the state.
The Public Safety Office is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of known or suspected Tren de Aragua gang members involved in criminal activity.
According to InSight Crime, a nonprofit that specializes in following organized crime, Tren De Aragua began in a Venezuelan prison and spreading into other South American countries in 2018 while smuggling migrants.
READ MORE:
- Jocelyn Nungaray murder suspects believed to be Venezuelan gang members, search warrant says
- Men arrested for brutal Dallas robbery said to be in Venezuelan gang, docs say
- 3 Venezuelan gang members accused of murdering North Texas man, kidnapping 2 kids; 1 suspect at large
- Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang raises alarm in Houston schools
- Venezuelan gang member arrested in Houston, DPS says
Texas law enforcement has arrested dozens of suspected Tren de Aragua members in the state.