{"id":2387257,"date":"2025-01-07T08:03:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-07T13:03:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/as-tda-expands-in-22-states-texas-law-enforcement-continue-crackdown-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-07T08:03:37","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T13:03:37","slug":"as-tda-expands-in-22-states-texas-law-enforcement-continue-crackdown-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/as-tda-expands-in-22-states-texas-law-enforcement-continue-crackdown-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"As TdA expands in 22 states, Texas law enforcement continue crackdown &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/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%2Fas-tda-expands-in-22-states-texas-law-enforcement-continue-crackdown-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=2387257&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>As the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua (TdA)\u200b gang \u2064expands its \u2064criminal activities\u200d across 22 states, Texas law enforcement continues to intensify its crackdown on these\u200c individuals. \u200bRecently, officers from Operation Lone Star apprehended a group of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/unprecedented-move-biden-admin-releasing-illegal-border-crossers-into-u-s-without-scheduling-court-dates-at-rgv-sector-fox-news-reports\/\" title=\"\u2018Unprecedented Move\u2019: Biden Admin Releasing \u2018Illegal Border Crossers\u2019 Into U.S. Without Scheduling Court Dates At RGV Sector, Fox News Reports\">illegal border crossers<\/a> in Maverick County, Texas. Among the 11 arrested were four suspected TdA members, aged 18 to 39, identified through gang tattoos and social media. Texas Department\u200c of Public Safety (DPS) officials highlighted the ongoing threat posed by the TdA to public safety and\u2064 emphasized the stateS commitment to utilizing every\u200c available resource to combat this \u2063issue.\u200c Governor Greg Abbott praised the efforts of law enforcement in preventing further infiltration of gang members \u200dinto texas.  <\/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\">As TdA expands in 22 states, Texas law enforcement continue crackdown<\/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_1929378\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; As&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/national\/article_d2d3521a-c6b7-11ef-bc06-fb8e3b4e84e6.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">crime expands<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;in at least 22 states by confirmed Venezuelan Tren de Aragua prison gang members, Texas <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/residents-hole-up-schools-close-as-searchers-zero-in-on-escaped-murderer-danelo-cavalcante\/\" title=\"Residents hide, schools shut as search narrows on fugitive Danelo Cavalcante.\">law enforcement officers continue<\/a> to apprehend them.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>After a&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/national\/article_0517d1f8-947f-11ef-988c-234250ad3908.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">record number<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;of more than one million Venezuelans illegally entered the country under the Biden administration, non-TdA members also continue to be arrested for violent crimes in Texas.<\/p>\n<p>The latest TdA arrests were by Operation Lone Star officers on Dec. 31 in Maverick County near Eagle Pass, Texas.<\/p>\n<p>They were among a group that illegally entered the country between ports of entry from Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico. Texas Department of Public Safety troopers arrested 11 illegal border crossers for criminal trespass who were jailed for state criminal charges, DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez said.<\/p>\n<p>Among them were nine Venezuelans claiming they were heading to San Antonio, and Irving and Corsicana, outside of Dallas. Texas DPS special agents interviewed them and searched them for identifying gang tattoos, suspecting four were TdA members. After receiving consent to search their phones, the agents accessed their social media apps and confirmed they were TdA members. Of the four, one has tattoos on his shoulders indicating he may hold a leadership role. The TdA members are all men ages 18 to 39: Antonio Joe Urruttia-Rojas, 18; Levi Jesus Urrutia-Blanco, 18; Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo, 27; and Segundo Ocando-Mejia, 39.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;TdA remains an existential threat to public safety and the state of Texas is utilizing every resource to track down &amp; arrest TdA members,&rdquo; Olivarez said. &ldquo;If not for Gov. Greg Abbott&rsquo;s Operation Lone Star&rsquo;s border mission, the support from the Texas legislature and most importantly, the dedicated work by our DPS personnel, these four TdA members would have potentially made it to their final destination in Texas.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;DPS will prioritize the safety of fellow Texans and the nation in identifying public safety and national security threats.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In response, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement praising the work of OLS and arresting the TdA members. In September, Abbott designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organization.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We will not tolerate this gang operating or gaining a foothold in Texas,&rdquo; Abbott said. &ldquo;Until President Trump is back in the White House to secure our border, Texas will continue to hunt down dangerous criminals like TdA and put them behind bars to protect Texans from this vicious gang.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>TdA members are known for brutal violence, murder, kidnapping, extortion, bribery and human and drug trafficking and are linked to more than <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">100 law enforcement investigations nationwide<\/a>, The Center Square reported. The U.S. Department of State has designated TdA, which began in the Tocor&oacute;n Prison in Aragua, Venezuela, as a transnational criminal organization. It&rsquo;s offering up to $12 million in rewards for information leading to the arrests and\/or convictions of its leaders who are believed to be in Columbia and Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p>Abbott also launched a statewide initiative to target TdA members and DPS is offering rewards of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of TdA members, The Center Square&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/texas\/article_d337d6fc-7461-11ef-b344-d7ae1692de43.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>As law enforcement officers continue to arrest TdA members statewide, they are also arresting violent Venezuelan nationals who aren&rsquo;t members of the violent prison gang.<\/p>\n<p>In November, emergency personnel responded to a house fire in the Polo Ranch Community in Fort Bend County, located roughly 40 minutes southwest of Houston. Fulshear Police officers arrested and charged a Venezuelan national, Pedro Luis Parra Pulgar, illegally in the country, for intentionally starting the fire with his three children inside. He was arrested and charged on three counts of attempted murder and arson and intentional damage to a habitat.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-denies-texas-inmates-request-to-stop-execution-over-claims-that-fire-damaged-injection-drugs\/\" title=\"Texas inmate&#039;s request to halt execution over fire-damaged injection drugs denied by judge.\">fire caused significant damage<\/a> to the home and sparked a swift response from Fulshear Police officers and first responders,&rdquo; Fulshear Police Department said in a statement. &ldquo;Two children managed to escape the flames with minor injuries, but a three-year-old remained trapped inside. Officers, hearing faint sounds from within the home, quickly entered through a bedroom window and rescued the child, who was suffering from severe smoke inhalation. The child was airlifted to a nearby hospital, received treatment, and has since been released.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Parra Pulgar sustained extensive injuries and was treated in a hospital. After he was released on Dec. 12, he was transported to and booked into Fort Bend County Jail. He is being held on a $2.25 million bond and also has a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer, according to&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/jailinq.fortbendcountytx.gov\/Inmate\/View_Inmate?VarJailID=P00258933\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">jail records<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Texas law enforcement officials have arrested more than 3,000 Venezuelan illegal border crossers during the Biden administration; more than 200 are wanted, according to the governor&rsquo;s office.<\/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_1929378\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1929378\"}});<\/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>Texas law enforcement intensifies efforts against TdA gang members as crime linked to them rises in 22 states<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2387258,"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\/10\/Crime_Arrest_Justice_Prison_jjh5.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[16097,5804,12432,48036,3694],"class_list":["post-2387257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-law-enforcement","tag-crackdown","tag-expansion","tag-tda","tag-texas"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Crime_Arrest_Justice_Prison_jjh5.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2387257","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=2387257"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2387257\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2387261,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2387257\/revisions\/2387261"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2387258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2387257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2387257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2387257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}