Tren de Aragua Members Arrested in US Following Warning

(DailyChive.com) – In Tennessee, authorities are raising the alarm about the growing presence of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Luis Alejandro Ruiz-Godoy, a gang member wanted by INTERPOL, in Memphis. Ruiz-Godoy was taken to Louisiana for deportation, though officials have shared few details about the arrest.

Shortly after, Tennessee’s Human Trafficking Task Force arrested four individuals connected to a sex trafficking operation in Hamilton County. Among them was Adelvis Rodriguez-Carmona, a known Tren de Aragua member accused of violent crimes in Chicago and New York City. He faces charges for patronizing prostitution, drug offenses, and unlawful weapons possession. Three women arrested in the sting face charges related to prostitution, with one also accused of drug-related crimes and weapons violations.

Law enforcement officials are concerned about the gang’s increasing activity in Tennessee. Tren de Aragua is not just involved in human trafficking. According to Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Director David Rausch, the gang operates in organized retail theft and the drug trade, often clashing with cartels in violent confrontations.

“This gang has exploited the border and moved into our cities,” Rausch said during a recent appearance. He explained that while authorities try to monitor the gang’s activities, their efforts are limited unless the suspects have immigration detainers, which allow law enforcement to take them into custody. Without those detainers, it’s a dangerous game of “cat and mouse.”

The gang’s operations have been reported in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga, prompting TBI officials to issue warnings about their growing influence. Last month, the Department of Homeland Security flagged over 600 migrants for potential ties to Tren de Aragua, recommending that more than 100 of them be placed on an FBI watchlist, as detailed in a report.

As the gang continues to expand its reach in the U.S., operations have already been reported in at least 16 states, with Tennessee officials urging residents to stay alert, according to a recent analysis. Limited resources and legal hurdles make it a challenging battle for law enforcement.