Federal crackdown on Tren de Aragua leads to nearly 1,300 arrests nationwide
The Trump administration claims this is the largest federal campaign against transnational organized crime in the country's history. Nearly 350 members and associates of the Venezuelan organization have been charged with federal crimes.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agent (File photo)
The administration of President Donald Trump reported that federal authorities have arrested 1,296 alleged members of Tren de Aragua as part of a broad crackdown on transnational criminal organizations operating in the country.
The arrests took place between Jan. 20, 2025, and Oct. 8, 2026, according to data from the Homeland Security Task Forces, initially reported exclusively by The Washington Examiner and later backed by the White House.
According to official figures, the Department of Justice has also filed federal charges against nearly 350 members and associates of the Venezuelan-based criminal organization.
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Identify, apprehend and dismantle criminal networks and terrorist organizations
The operation is part of a strategy launched in 2025 by the White House, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), aimed at identifying, apprehending and dismantling criminal networks and terrorist organizations operating within U.S. territory.
In a statement, the White House described the initiative as the largest federal campaign against transnational crime in U.S. history and asserted that the operations have helped reduce violent crime rates in the country. This last statement reflects the administration's assessment.
The U.S. government attributed part of the expansion of Tren de Aragua to its members crossing the border from Mexico during the administration of former President Joe Biden, whom Trump has repeatedly blamed for his immigration policies.
The Venezuelan organization was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department in February 2025, a decision that expanded the federal government's legal tools to combat its operations.
Notable among recent actions is the arrest of Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre, aka “Prometeo” or “El Ingeniero,” identified by authorities as a leader linked to Tren de Aragua and listed among the FBI's ten most wanted fugitives.
Strengthened national security and immigration control policy
The arrest was announced on Oct. 2 by the DOJ, which highlighted the cooperation of federal task forces in the investigation.
The White House has reiterated that it will continue operations targeting Tren de Aragua and other transnational criminal organizations as part of its national security and immigration enforcement policy.
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