Venezuelan Gang’s Rise and Impact on American Communities
A prison in Venezuela, once a symbol of corruption and luxury for its inmates, has become the birthplace of a notorious gang, now wreaking havoc in American cities. The rise of this gang, known as Tren de Aragua, highlights the dangers of weak governance and the need for strong border security.
Tocorón, the prison’s location, was once a place where inmates lived in relative comfort, with amenities like swimming pools and nightclubs. For years, under the watch of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the prison was effectively controlled by the inmates themselves. From within its walls, they planned and carried out kidnappings, extortion schemes, and other violent crimes.
The gang’s rise began in 2013 when Héctor “Niño” Guerrero, a convicted murderer, was incarcerated at Tocorón. Seeing the corruption that was rampant, Guerrero took advantage of the situation to expand his gang. The United States has now designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization.
According to David Pyrooz, a sociology professor, economic instability can lead to the formation of gangs, especially in prisons where criminals compete for control. The lack of state control is a key factor in the growth of gang activity, both in the United States and around the world.
Inmates were required to pay weekly dues to the gang leaders, resulting in millions of dollars flowing into the gang’s coffers each year. This money, along with the proceeds from crimes committed outside the prison, fueled the gang’s expansion and influence.
The Maduro administration did not take action against Tren de Aragua until 2023, a decade after the gang began its rise. By then, the gang had grown to over 4,000 members and had a presence in much of the country. When Venezuelan troops finally stormed the prison, Guerrero and several other members were able to escape.
Following Guerrero’s escape, crimes involving members of Tren de Aragua began to increase in the United States. One location particularly hard-hit was a Colorado town, where the gang took over apartment buildings and terrorized residents.
In one instance, heavily-armed men, believed to be members of Tren de Aragua, were seen on surveillance video pacing the halls of an apartment building. In another incident, a property manager was assaulted after refusing to accept a bribe from gang members. The gang also targeted Venezuelan immigrants, extorting and intimidating them.
The situation became so dire that a Colorado judge ordered an apartment complex to be temporarily closed due to the threat to public safety. City officials helped relocate families who had been victimized by the gang.
In 2025, a suspected member of Tren de Aragua was arrested in New York City. He was allegedly one of the men seen on video kicking down a door in the Colorado apartment complex.
Pyrooz believes that these problems could have been prevented if the Venezuelan government had been more effective in stopping the gang’s rise. He also suggests that the government may have played a role in the gang’s migration to the United States.
In December, the Department of Justice announced that two alleged leaders of Tren de Aragua had been indicted on federal charges. These charges include racketeering conspiracy, which is an effort to hold members of the gang accountable for their crimes.
The leader of Tren de Aragua, Guerrero, remains at large. The situation highlights the importance of strong border security and the need to prevent dangerous criminals from entering the United States. If Venezuela had not allowed gangs to take control of its prisons, the gang leader would not have escaped and expanded the gang’s reach into U.S. cities. It also points to the need for effective governance and correctional facilities to prevent gangs from rising to power.
