{"id":2384528,"date":"2024-12-29T17:33:55","date_gmt":"2024-12-29T22:33:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/violent-venezuelan-gang-members-expanding-operations-in-midwest-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-12-29T17:35:32","modified_gmt":"2024-12-29T22:35:32","slug":"violent-venezuelan-gang-members-expanding-operations-in-midwest-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/violent-venezuelan-gang-members-expanding-operations-in-midwest-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Violent Venezuelan gang members expanding operations in Midwest &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fviolent-venezuelan-gang-members-expanding-operations-in-midwest-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2384528&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The summary discusses the increasing influence of the violent Venezuelan prison gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA), across \u2062various midwestern states in the U.S., including Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin. The gang has \u2064capitalized on a important\u2062 influx of Venezuelan illegal border crossers, which has\u200d surged under the Biden administration, leading to \u2064over a million\u200b crossing\u200b into \u2064the U.S. Many of these individuals, including TdA members, have contributed to heightened violence, particularly in urban areas like Chicago. The gang is notorious for serious crimes, including \u200dextortion, human trafficking, and murder. Recent \u2063investigations reveal\u200b that\u200b TdA has\u2062 established a foothold in South American migrant \u200dcommunities, with law enforcement reporting numerous arrests linked to\u200d the gang.The findings indicate a troubling trend of violent crime and organized criminal \u2062activities tied to the gang&#8217;s operations in these states.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Violent Venezuelan gang members expanding operations in Midwest<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1922721\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; Members of the violent Venezuelan prison gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA), continue to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">expand criminal operations nationwide<\/a>, including in the midwestern states of Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Wisconsin.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In Illinois, Chicago has long been plagued with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nebraska-grappling-with-illegal-border-crosser-crime-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Nebraska grappling with illegal border crosser crime - Washington Examiner\">illegal border crosser crime<\/a>, serving as a major hub for drug trafficking operations run by the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel and transnational criminal organizations working with street gangs, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has reported.<\/p>\n<p>As the border crisis escalated over the past few years, a record number of Venezuelan illegal border crossers, more than one million, were reported under the Biden administration. As hundreds of thousands were released into the U.S., including TdA members, violence spread nationwide, including in the so-called sanctuary city of Chicago.<\/p>\n<p>Tren de Aragua gang members are known for violence, murder, kidnapping, extortion, bribery and human and drug trafficking and are linked to more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tennessee-bureau-of-investigations-venezuelan-gang-in-every-major-city-in-state-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Tennessee Bureau of Investigations: Venezuelan gang in every major city in state - Washington Examiner\">100 law enforcement investigations nationwide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>An investigation by America First Legal found that Chicago law enforcement learned that TdA members were perpetrating human trafficking, sex exploitation, drug trafficking, and retail theft rings, also using extreme brutality &ndash; including dismemberment &ndash; to threaten their rivals.<\/p>\n<p>TdA members have embedded themselves in South American migrant communities, with Chicago Police Department records revealing at least 30 arrests were of confirmed TdA members between Jan. 1, 2023, and Sept. 10, 2024, according to records obtained by AFL through Freedom of Information requests.<\/p>\n<p>In October, AFL released its first report on TdA crime impacting Cook County, publishing records from the Cook County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office. In November, it published data and documents from the Chicago Police Department and Illinois Governor&rsquo;s Office related to TdA crime and city policies.<\/p>\n<p>According to police arrest records obtained by CWB Chicago News, arrests of Venezuelan nationals in Chicago exploded by more than 2,500% under the Biden administration between 2021 and 2023. Chicago Police Department officers arrested six Venezuelan nationals in 2021, 26 in 2022 and 686 in 2023, according to the data. Venezuelan arrests in 2023 were up 11,333% from 2021 and up 2,538% from 2022, the outlet reported.<\/p>\n<p>TdA crime doesn&rsquo;t just stay in Chicago but has been found to be linked to multiple cities. Last month, an alleged TdA member operating in Chicago was arrested in Chattanooga, Tenn. in a sex trafficking crackdown, NBC 5 News Chicago reported.<\/p>\n<p>This is after he illegally entered the U.S. in Eagle Pass, Texas, in July 2022, was processed for removal and released into the country instead of being detained, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. By February 2024, he was arrested by Cicero, Ill., police officers on multiple charges including aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and subsequently released. In March, ICE arrested and detained him, nearly two years after ICE first released him into the country.<\/p>\n<p>In Indiana, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department detectives busted a sex trafficking ring connected to TdA members allegedly engaged in forced prostitution with ties to a sex trafficking ring in Boston, Mass., authorities said, WTHR News reported.<\/p>\n<p>TdA members were also arrested in Missouri, prompting state and federal lawmakers to demand answers and introduce legislation, The Center Square exclusively reported.<\/p>\n<p>In Wisconsin, a confirmed TdA member was arrested in Crawford County late last year on six charges including strangulation, false imprisonment, sexual assault and child abuse, WXOW News 19 reported.<\/p>\n<p>Some reports by think tanks and on social media appear to confuse TdA with South American theft groups (SATG) operating in the Midwest. The SATG are primarily run by Columbian and Chilean nationals who either illegally entered the U.S. or exploited a visa program, The Center Square reported. Those targeting NFL and NBA players in Michigan and Minnesota have been confirmed to be part of the SATG, The Center Square reported.<\/p>\n<p>Although TdA has established a stronghold in Colombia, Chile and Peru, authorities have yet to confirm TdA affiliation when making SATG announcements. Many of these cases are ongoing and SATG culprits remain at large.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The type of crimes and methodology used by the groups are different, authorities have found. SATG operatives target wealthy neighborhoods, burglarize homes and quickly leave the scene. TdA operatives entrench themselves in migrant communities, perpetrate human trafficking, forced prostitution, aggravated assault and murder, among other violent crimes.<\/p>\n<p>The common trait SATG and TdA members share is they illegally entered the U.S. under the Biden administration and have been identified as top targets for removal by the Trump administration.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1922721\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1922721\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua expands criminal activities in the Midwest<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2384529,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/police-law-enforcement-istock-1024x681.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[39657,5658,14099],"class_list":["post-2384528","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-gang-violence","tag-midwest","tag-venezuela"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/police-law-enforcement-istock-1024x681.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2384528","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2384528"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2384528\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2384532,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2384528\/revisions\/2384532"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2384529"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2384528"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2384528"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2384528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}