Concerns over Venezuelan gang activities and recruitment methods among migrant families and children in New York are intensifying, as NYPD detectives report an alarming rise in the number of children being coerced into crime. Police say members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang are posing a threat to the city's security by blending in with law-abiding asylum seekers, and further, recruiting not only Venezuelan kids but migrants from other countries as well, as CBS News New York reported.
Law enforcement officials, including NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, highlighted the difficulties in identifying these individuals, due to their lack of fingerprints, photographs, or any criminal history on file. Kenny mentioned the gangs having "no way of tracking or knowing who they are," compounding the complexity of the issue. According to CBS News New York, gangs have been brazen in their approaches, shooting at police officers., and carrying out robberies at gunpoint and knifepoint.
Residents of the Roosevelt Hotel, a city-funded migrant shelter, are increasingly worried about their children's safety amid reports of gang violence and recruitment efforts within the building. A mother, who chose to remain anonymous, referenced the hotel's reputation on social media, saying her daughter "showed me videos on TikTok," where stories about the shelter's gang activities frequently surface, as per a statement the mother told The Post. The disturbing situation is exacerbated by the gang's offshoot, the Little Devils of 42nd Street, which involves even younger children in criminal acts.
Migrant mothers express their apprehension plainly, taking measures to protect their children from gang influence. Airada Pereira, living in a Manhattan migrant shelter with her 11-year-old son, shared her deep concerns, "People have warned us to be careful with the child because they are recruiting younger children. It worries me a lot," she told CBS News New York. Furthermore, the challenges extend beyond children, with reports of gangs preying on other migrants too, often disinclined to report crimes fearing deportation.
In response to the issue, community organizers like Power Malu, co-founder of Resources Opportunities Connections and Community, are advocating for more youth programs to provide alternatives to gang life. Malu emphasized the significance of such programs in keeping migrant kids engaged, "I absolutely know that the soccer program is important for the kids to be able to get involved with something where they feel like they belong," he said to CBS News New York. With nearly 22,000 migrant kids in city shelters, the need for additional resources and spaces to enhance their integration into the community and protect them from criminal elements becomes even more pressing.
