The presence of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua (TDA) in El Paso has become a concerning issue, but District Attorney Bill Hicks assures residents that the city remains safe amid growing concerns. El Paso, while playing host to the influx of illegal activities, is "not ground zero for TDA activity," Hicks clarified in a recent press conference, as reported by KVIA. The District Attorney addressed Governor Greg Abbott's comments calling El Paso "ground zero" for Tren de Aragua's entry into the United States, distinguishing between being a point of entry and a hub of the gang's operations.
During the same news event, Hicks dismissed the notion that the closure of the Gateway Hotel was tied to harboring TDA members. Instead, he attributed the closure to "numerous violations related directly to the running and operations" of the hotel. According to Local12, this was the first time Hicks spoke publicly concerning the Gateway Hotel, which has been at the core of speculation regarding its ties to the TDA.
The difficulty of tracking and identifying TDA members was underscored by former Border Patrol agent Ammon Blair, who spoke about challenges stemming from inadequate criminal records from Venezuela and the tense diplomatic relations hindering information exchange. "Tren de Aragua built their entire criminal enterprise off the backs of eight million Venezuelans," Blair said, as obtained by KTSM. He noted that the gang operates within Venezuelan communities, engaging in activities ranging from kidnapping to extortion.
With TDA's rapid expansion throughout South America, the federal government is actively involved in an international law enforcement collaboration, including Mexican, Colombian, and Peruvian officials, to counter the gang's activities. "They’re also working with Colombian law enforcement officials, Peruvian law enforcement officials. International law enforcement officials are cooperating, trying to address TDA activity," Hicks said, as per KTSM. Despite these efforts, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office could not confirm gang membership in any of the arrests made so far.
