While crime in New York City has seen a significant increase since it opened its doors to illegal immigrants, things are expected to get worse. The FBI announced that a Venezuelan gang has established itself in the Big Apple and might form an alliance with the deadly Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13.
“While these gangs wouldn’t normally mix, it’s always going to be a concern as the gang [Tren de Aragua] expands in strength and establishes a foothold,” FBI Agent John Morales said in an interview with the New York Post.
“Right now we are working with our local law enforcement partners and sharing intelligence in order to stop the growth of Tren de Aragua,” he added.
According to Morales, Tren de Aragua has been responsible for the latest crime wave of cellphone robberies in the city. The moped-riding group would snatch the victims’ phones and ride off.
One of their horrific robberies was caught on camera. The footage showed the gang of illegals dragging a 62-year-old woman down the street before she was slammed into a metal bike rack.
According to Bizpac Review, Tren de Aragua is the “fastest-growing Transnational Criminal Organization in the world.”
The Biden administration made it easy for the gang to cross the southern border and migrate to cities including New York City, Miami and Chicago.
Biden could stop this TOMORROW but instead, his policies are letting Venezuelan "Tren De Aragua" gang members to:
1) Illegally enter WITHOUT vetting
2) Claim asylum
3) Move to NY
4) Recruit other illegals to joinNY National Guard sources say "It's like being in a combat zone." pic.twitter.com/q0e6IvzGIw
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) February 15, 2024
Tren de Aragua’s ring leader, Hector Guerrero who goes by the alias El Niño Guerrero, is believed to be hiding out in the U.S. after escaping a Venezuelan prison in 2023.
Between Oct. 2022 and Sep. 2023, 41 Tren de Aragua members were apprehended by Border Patrol agents.
Last week, NYPD officers arrested Franco Alexander Peraza Navas, the ringleader of the moped robberies. He told the Post that he never expected to be caught.
“In a million years, I never thought you’d catch me. I’ve been going to Miami every three weeks, and it’s much bigger than me,” he said.
While the thought of Tren de Aragua teaming up with MS-13 is enough to put fear into New York City’s residents and illegals alike, Robert Almonte, a security consultant and former US marshal in El Paso warned that turf wars could break out between the two groups.
“They are already coming over as hardened criminals,” he said, adding: “I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that they could form alliances with other gangs, but what’s more likely to happen is that turf wars break out as each gang fights to control their own criminal enterprise.”
The FBI has asked Venezuelan immigrants to come forward if they have information, with promises to keep their identity anonymous. The gang often preys on its fellow Venezuelans first.
