### Title: The Rise of Tren de Aragua: A Threat from Venezuela

### Summary: Tren de Aragua has emerged as a significant criminal organization rooted in Venezuelan prisons, becoming a focal point for U.S. security concerns and resulting in executive actions amid growing violence and human trafficking issues.

President Trump’s recent executive order has invoked the Alien Enemies Act, specifically targeting Venezuelan individuals aged 14 and older associated with the ruthless gang Tren de Aragua. This action highlights the gang's status as a transnational threat, with the order stating that these individuals "are liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies." Although this directive faces judicial challenges, Tren de Aragua’s surge in criminal activity has alarmed U.S. officials for several months.

Originating in Tocorón prison in Venezuela’s Aragua state, Tren de Aragua has evolved into one of Latin America’s most feared criminal groups. Within the confines of the prison, gang leaders operated like sovereigns, fostering conditions akin to a mini-city complete with numerous amenities, while conducting brutal executions to maintain dominance. The collapse of Venezuela's economy and an increasingly oppressive regime under President Nicolás Maduro enabled the gang to exploit the vulnerabilities of migrants, resulting in its influence expanding throughout the region.

The group has garnered attention for horrific crimes, including sex trafficking and human smuggling. Colombian authorities have linked them to at least 23 murders, with dismembered bodies discovered, indicating the gruesome reality of their operations. Their criminal reach now extends to Chile and Brazil, where they have partnered with some of the largest crime organizations, such as Primeiro Comando da Capital.

As Tren de Aragua's notoriety grows, the U.S. assigns greater importance to measures addressing their activities that threaten domestic security and highlight the complexities of handling transnational crime as the gang continues to push its violent agenda across borders.