US News

Abbott: Texas Is the ‘Wrong State’ for Venezuelan Gang to Set Up Criminal Operations

Abbott declares Tren de Aragua gang a foreign terrorist organization after members occupied a crime-ridden El Paso hotel.
Abbott: Texas Is the ‘Wrong State’ for Venezuelan Gang to Set Up Criminal Operations
Still photo taken from a security camera at the Gateway Hotel, which was part of an aggravated assault case included in court documents, in El Paso, Texas, on June 15, 2024. Courtesy of the El Paso County Attorney
Darlene McCormick Sanchez
|Updated:
0:00

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced an “aggressive” crackdown on a Venezuelan gang that authorities fear is gaining a foothold in the state following the closure last week of a crime-ridden hotel housing gang members.

Abbott signed a proclamation designating Tren de Aragua (TDA) as a foreign terrorist organization and a tier-one gang during a news conference in Houston on Sept. 16.

Darlene McCormick Sanchez
Darlene McCormick Sanchez
Reporter
Darlene McCormick Sanchez is an Epoch Times reporter who covers border security and immigration, election integrity, and Texas politics. Ms. McCormick Sanchez has 20 years of experience in media and has worked for outlets including Waco Tribune Herald, Tampa Tribune, and Waterbury Republican-American. She was a finalist for a Pulitzer prize for investigative reporting.