(LibertySociety.com) – A growing crime wave in New York City, fueled by members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua, has escalated with juvenile gang members committing robberies in high-profile areas like Times Square. The gang, which originated in Venezuelan prisons, has made its way into the U.S., taking advantage of New York’s lenient laws regarding juvenile crime. Assistant Chief Jason Savino of the NYPD described how these young gang members, some as young as 11, are repeatedly avoiding jail time despite committing serious offenses, including gunpoint robberies and “wolfpack” attacks on tourists.
Housed in the former Roosevelt Hotel, now converted into a migrant shelter, the young gang members—part of a subset calling themselves Los Diablos de la 42—have been involved in over 50 separate crimes. They have used social media to boast about their criminal activities, even flaunting firearms in photos and videos. Despite being arrested numerous times, the state’s policies prevent juveniles from being held in custody for long, allowing them to reoffend with impunity.
Savino explained that when the gang members first arrived, they primarily committed petty crimes like pickpocketing, but have since escalated to more violent crimes involving weapons. This surge in crime has drawn attention to the challenges the city faces in managing the influx of nearly 200,000 asylum-seeking migrants, many of whom are still awaiting legal determinations regarding their status in the U.S.
The rise of the Tren de Aragua in New York is part of a larger trend, with the gang extending its reach into other major U.S. cities like Chicago and small towns such as Aurora, Colorado, and Athens, Georgia. The gang has even been linked to the murder of nursing student Laken Riley in Georgia, raising concerns about its influence beyond the borders of New York City. Despite these challenges, the NYPD continues its efforts to combat the gang’s activities, even as it faces obstacles in keeping juvenile offenders behind bars.
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