Texas raid nets 140 illegal immigrants tied to Tren de Aragua gang
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A raid on a sex and human trafficking operation run by members of the Tren de Aragua gang (TdA) in San Antonio resulted in the arrest of at least 140 illegal immigrants, authorities said Monday.
Texas Governor Gregg Abbott said the raid was part of a joint operation between the Texas Department of Public Safety and federal and local authorities.
On Monday, a regional Homeland Security Task Force was created to combat international criminal organizations. The task force’s goal is to disrupt drug cartels, foreign terrorist organizations, and criminal networks responsible for crimes such as human trafficking, drug trafficking, and money laundering.
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It’s unclear why ICE agents stopped traffic in the early morning hours. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Sunday’s raid was part of President Donald Trump’s executive order issued on January 20 targeting international criminal organizations.
More than 140 illegal immigrants from Venezuela, Honduras, Mexico and other South American countries were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
The raid involved multiple federal agencies.
“The Homeland Security Task Force allows the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to bring to the table advanced investigative techniques that are effective in apprehending the most violent drug trafficking organizations in the United States and around the world,” said Houston Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen.
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and other federal law enforcement agencies. Federal authorities conducted a raid in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday and arrested more than 140 people, authorities said. (Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“We look forward to working hand-in-hand with our federal and state counterparts to defeat the drug traffickers who are pumping poison into our neighborhoods and devastating our communities,” he added.
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, whose brother serves as mayor of San Antonio, said he has reached out to the Justice Department and local agencies for more information about the raid. He claimed raids elsewhere arrested U.S. citizens and immigrants without criminal records.
Meanwhile, in Houston, ICE arrested 3,500 criminal illegal aliens, including child predators and murderers, during the 43-day government shutdown.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) speaks at a news conference in February. (Getty)
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Authorities said the suspects in custody included 13 people convicted of murder, 51 child predators, 67 sex offenders and 23 gang members, including an MS-13 gang member accused of a triple homicide in Dallas.
