Venezuelan gang members arrested thousands of miles from the border

(Central Square) – Members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua are arrested thousands of miles from the border after illegally entering the United States in Texas.

The Venezuelan prison gang is well known for orchestrating murders, corruption and money laundering schemes, drug and arms trafficking, and kidnappings for ransom. In March, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Maria Elvira Salazar, both Republicans from Florida, called on the president to formally designate Tren de Aragua as a transnational criminal organization.

“Tren de Aragua is an invading criminal army from a prison in Venezuela that has spread its brutality and chaos to cities and small towns across the United States,” they said. “If nothing is done, they will unleash an unprecedented reign of terror, mirroring the devastation it has already inflicted on communities across Central and South America, including Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru. The scope of Tren de Aragua's operations encompasses murder, drug and human trafficking, sex crimes, extortion and kidnapping, among other brutalities.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) agents recently arrested Venezuelan members of the Tren de Aragua in New York and Chicago, but deportation efforts have been thwarted by federal or local policies.

On May 10, ICE-ERO-New York agents arrested Johan Jose Cardenas Silva, wanted by Peruvian authorities on charges of conspiracy, assault, and aggravated robbery. That was two months after New York City police officers arrested him in March and charged him with various gun and drug charges.

“This international fugitive mistakenly believed he could enter the United States not only to escape justice in other countries, but also to continue his criminal activities with impunity,” said Kenneth Genalo, field office director. of ICE-ERO in New York. “His history of lawless behavior and his membership in a violent international criminal organization clearly demonstrate that he poses a serious threat to public safety. »

Despite Genalo's claims, Cardenas was released from an ICE detention center in October 2023.

After entering the United States illegally in Del Rio, Texas, Border Patrol agents apprehended him on October 4, 2022, determined that he had entered the United States illegally, and issued him a notice and expedited eviction order.

On January 19, 2023, agents from ICE-ERO-San Antonio served him with a summons to appear before an immigration judge, and in March 2023, an immigration judge ordered him removed from the United States.

He was not expelled. Instead, on October 5, 2023, he was released from ICE's Stewart County Detention Center “on a supervision order to report to New York City; however, he never showed up as instructed,” according to ICE.

He traveled to New York, but was arrested on March 27 by NYPD officers and charged with “criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree: loaded firearm; criminal possession of a weapon – second degree: loaded firearm on school grounds; controlled substance for criminal possession-5e: intent to sell; and act in a way that harms a child under 17 years of age.

The same day, the Bronx Criminal Court arraigned him and released him on his own recognizance despite his criminal history and before ICE-ERO could place another immigration detainer. “Due to New York State’s Protect Our Courts law, ERO New York City was unable to arrest Cardenas following his release,” ICE said.

Cardenas allegedly committed other crimes and was arrested again. On April 1, the Nassau County Police Department arrested him and charged him with “fourth-degree grand larceny: property valued over $1,000 and petit larceny.” Within a month, a district court found him guilty and sentenced him to 60 days in prison.

He was being held in a county correctional facility until he was arrested and deported by ICE. He is currently in ICE custody awaiting deportation proceedings. ICE agents were also informed that Cardenas was an international fugitive wanted by Peruvian authorities with an arrest warrant dating back to October 2018.

In Chicago, ICE-ERO-Chicago agents in March arrested another Venezuelan Tren de Aragua member who was under investigation by the Chicago Police Department for a drive-by shooting in the Little Italy neighborhood in Chicago.

This was after he was first arrested for illegally entering the country near Eagle Pass, Texas, in 2022.

Border Patrol agents first arrested Adelvis Rodriguez-Carmona near Eagle Pass on July 7, 2022, and placed him in deportation proceedings. He was later released into the country on his own recognizance and ordered to appear before an immigration judge, which he did not do. A year later, on July 7, 2023, an immigration judge issued a final order of removal in absentia.

On February 24, 2024, he was arrested by officers of the Cicero Police Department in Illinois for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, no firearm identification card, driving without a license or insurance, and possession of cannabis intended for adult use in a motor vehicle. He was later released.

A few weeks later, on March 11, ICE-ERO agents arrested him without incident. He is currently being held at ICE's Dodge County Detention Center in Juneau, Wisconsin, awaiting deportation proceedings.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“This Venezuelan non-citizen posed a significant threat to residents in our communities,” said Raymond Hernandez, deputy director of ICE-ERO’s Chicago field office. “Not only is he a confirmed member of a transnational street gang, but he has also demonstrated a willingness to illegally discharge a firearm in public. ERO Chicago will continue to prioritize public safety by removing these threats from our streets.

Rubio and Salazar warned: “The Tren de Aragua has plunged communities into chaos” in Ecuador, Colombia, Chile and Peru. “They have sowed fear and instability, undermining the credibility of government institutions and the safety and security of innocent civilians. …We cannot allow our cities to become battlegrounds for such organizations, nor allow our citizens to suffer at their hands.”