Aurora
Cheyenne
Salt Lake City
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Cochise
El Paso
San Antonio
Houston
Dallas
Baton Rouge
Doral
Miami
Ft. Lauderdale
Athens
Chattanooga
Memphis
Nashville
Knoxville
Charlotte
Fairfax
Washington DC
Baltimore
Bergen County
New York City
Stamford
Indianapolis
Detroit
Prairie du Chien
Chicago
West Fargo
Charleston
Charleston
Summerville
Boston
Honesdale
Lakeland
Orlando
Columbus
Las Cruces
Denver
New Orleans
TREN DE ARAGUA
THE VENEZUELAN TERRORIST-GANG
INFILTRATING THE UNITED STATES
The Tren de Aragua (TdA) is accused of carrying out criminal activities in at least 23 U.S. states, with the most notable in New York, Texas, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and Tennessee.
Major cities impacted include New York City, Aurora, San Antonio, Nashville, Chicago, and El Paso, with NYC experiencing the most TdA-related crimes.
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
2023-2024
The Biden Administration arrested approximately 576 Venezuelan nationals tied to the TdA in two years, 2023-2024.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
2025
The Trump Administration arrested approximately 489 Venezuelan nationals tied to the TdA in two+ months, January 20 – April 24, 2025.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
2025
In 2025, the U.S. has deported at least 2329 Venezuelan nationals under Title 8 authorities or more recently under Title 50 authorities related to the Alien Enemies Act.
TREN DE ARAGUA
THE VENEZUELAN TERRORIST-GANG
INFILTRATING THE UNITED STATES
The Tren de Aragua (TdA) is accused of carrying out criminal activities in at least 20 U.S. states, with the most notable in New York, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Illinois, and Tennessee.
Major cities impacted include New York City, Aurora, San Antonio, Nashville, Chicago, and El Paso, with NYC experiencing the most TdA-related crimes.
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
2023-2024
The Biden Administration arrested approximately 576 Venezuelan nationals tied to the TdA in two years, 2023-2024.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
2025
The Trump Administration arrested approximately 448 Venezuelan nationals tied to the TdA in two+ months, January 20 – April 25, 2025.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
2025
In 2025, the U.S. has deported at least 2329 Venezuelan nationals under Title 8 authorities or more recently under Title 50 authorities related to the Alien Enemies Act.
DEPORTEES TO
VENEZUELA
With deportation flights temporarily suspended, the U.S. invoked the Alien Enemies Act and deported 238 Venezuelans (out of 261 total detainees) to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, via a stopover in Honduras.
The U.S. deported 17 individuals, including Venezuelans accused of criminal activity, to CECOT in El Salvador. U.S. authorities cited gang affiliations, including Tren de Aragua and MS-13, as the basis for the removals.
Flight to El Salvador, deporting 10 MS-13 and Tren de Aragua members, is a continuation of U.S. efforts to combat transnational crime through cooperation with El Salvador.
DEPORTEES TO
EL SALVADOR
Two chartered flights operated by Venezuela’s state airline Conviasa departed Biggs Army Airfield (El Paso, Texas) and returned 199 Venezuelan nationals to Caracas. These were the first deportation flights since 2023, made possible after U.S. Special Envoy Richard Grenell’s visit to Caracas on January 31.
A two-stage deportation operation transferred 177 Venezuelans from Guantánamo Bay to Soto Cano Air Base (Honduras) via an ICE flight. They were then flown to Caracas by Conviasa. The transfer removed the remaining Venezuelan detainees from Guantánamo.
Deportations resumed after a new U.S.–Venezuela agreement. An ICE flight transported 199 Venezuelans to Honduras, where they boarded a Conviasa flight and arrived in Caracas early March 24.
A second post-resumption flight transported 178 Venezuelans to Soto Cano Air Base, where they were transferred to Conviasa and flown to Venezuela. Honduras praised the cooperation among all three countries in facilitating this deportation operation.
A U.S. charter plane landed directly in Maiquetía (Venezuela) with 175 deportees, the first direct U.S.–Venezuela deportation of the year.
A U.S. flight transported 198 deportees from Harlingen, Texas, to Honduras, where they were then transferred to a Conviasa flight (VCV9013/YV3554) that landed in Maiquetía (Venezuela), as part of the ongoing U.S.–Venezuela repatriation agreement.
An Eastern Airlines flight (EAL8255) transported 208 deportees from Harlingen, Texas, directly to Maiquetía (Venezuela), landing at 7:00 AM local time with Venezuelans detained in the U.S., as part of the ongoing U.S.–Venezuela repatriation agreement.
The Conviasa flight YV3554, an Airbus A340-212, transported 178 Venezuelan nationals from Comayagua, Honduras, to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, as part of the U.S.–Venezuela repatriation agreement. The deportees arrived in Honduras on an Omni Air International flight (OAE3208) from Harlingen, Texas earlier that day.
An Eastern Airlines flight (N705KW, a Boeing 767-336(ER)) transported 191 Venezuelan nationals from Harlingen, Texas, to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, with a stopover at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The flight departed from Guantanamo (NBW) and landed in Maiquetía (CCS).
Conviasa flight YV3554 (VCV9013), an Airbus A340-212, transported 175 Venezuelan deportees from Comayagua, Honduras (Joint Base Soto Cano), to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, as part of the U.S.–Venezuela repatriation agreement.
The flight, which departed Tegucigalpa (XPL) and landed in Caracas (CCS). The deportees had been flown to Comayagua earlier that day on an Omni Air International flight (OAE3222) from Harlingen, Texas, via Miami and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Omni Air International flight OAE3223, a 2002 Boeing 767-300 (Reg: N486AX, Hex: A5FEF9), transported 199 Venezuelan deportees from NAS - JRB Fort Worth in Texas (HRL) directly to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela (CCS), as part of the U.S.–Venezuela repatriation agreement.
DEPORTEES TO
VENEZUELA
Two chartered flights operated by Venezuela’s state airline Conviasa departed Biggs Army Airfield (El Paso, Texas) and returned 199 Venezuelan nationals to Caracas. These were the first deportation flights since 2023, made possible after U.S. Special Envoy Richard Grenell’s visit to Caracas on January 31.
A two-stage deportation operation transferred 177 Venezuelans from Guantánamo Bay to Soto Cano Air Base (Honduras) via an ICE flight. They were then flown to Caracas by Conviasa. The transfer removed the remaining Venezuelan detainees from Guantánamo.
Deportations resumed after a new U.S.–Venezuela agreement. An ICE flight transported 199 Venezuelans to Honduras, where they boarded a Conviasa flight and arrived in Caracas early March 24.
A second post-resumption flight transported 178 Venezuelans to Soto Cano Air Base, where they were transferred to Conviasa and flown to Venezuela. Honduras praised the cooperation among all three countries in facilitating this deportation operation.
A U.S. charter plane landed directly in Maiquetía (Venezuela) with 175 deportees, the first direct U.S.–Venezuela deportation of the year.
A U.S. flight transported 198 deportees from Harlingen, Texas, to Honduras, where they were then transferred to a Conviasa flight (VCV9013/YV3554) that landed in Maiquetía (Venezuela), as part of the ongoing U.S.–Venezuela repatriation agreement.
An Eastern Airlines flight (EAL8255) transported 208 deportees from Harlingen, Texas, directly to Maiquetía (Venezuela), landing at 7:00 AM local time with Venezuelans detained in the U.S., as part of the ongoing U.S.–Venezuela repatriation agreement.
The Conviasa flight YV3554, an Airbus A340-212, transported 178 Venezuelan nationals from Comayagua, Honduras, to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, as part of the U.S.–Venezuela repatriation agreement. The deportees arrived in Honduras on an Omni Air International flight (OAE3208) from Harlingen, Texas earlier that day.
An Eastern Airlines flight (N705KW, a Boeing 767-336(ER)) transported 191 Venezuelan nationals from Harlingen, Texas, to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, with a stopover at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The flight departed from Guantanamo (NBW) and landed in Maiquetía (CCS).
Conviasa flight YV3554 (VCV9013), an Airbus A340-212, transported 175 Venezuelan deportees from Comayagua, Honduras (Joint Base Soto Cano), to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, as part of the U.S.–Venezuela repatriation agreement.
The flight, which departed Tegucigalpa (XPL) and landed in Caracas (CCS). The deportees had been flown to Comayagua earlier that day on an Omni Air International flight (OAE3222) from Harlingen, Texas, via Miami and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Omni Air International flight OAE3223, a 2002 Boeing 767-300 (Reg: N486AX, Hex: A5FEF9), transported 199 Venezuelan deportees from NAS - JRB Fort Worth in Texas (HRL) directly to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela (CCS), as part of the U.S.–Venezuela repatriation agreement.
DEPORTEES TO
EL SALVADOR
With deportation flights temporarily suspended, the U.S. invoked the Alien Enemies Act and deported 238 Venezuelans (out of 261 total detainees) to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, via a stopover in Honduras.
The U.S. deported 17 individuals, including Venezuelans accused of criminal activity, to CECOT in El Salvador. U.S. authorities cited gang affiliations, including Tren de Aragua and MS-13, as the basis for the removals.
Flight to El Salvador, deporting 10 MS-13 and Tren de Aragua members, is a continuation of U.S. efforts to combat transnational crime through cooperation with El Salvador.
DERAILING
THE TREN DE ARAGUA
SPECIAL REPORT
The Tren de Aragua (TdA) represents a criminal system that was honed and perfected inside Venezuelan prison walls then exported throughout the Western Hemisphere. With a documented presence in no fewer than 20 U.S. states, the TdA is terrorizing urban and suburban communities throughout America.
Joseph m. humire
SFS Executive Director and Former Visiting Fellow in the Allison Center for National Security at The Heritage Foundation.
For the Venezuelan regime, the TdA is a tool of asymmetric warfare to destabilize countries while maintaining plausible deniability.
In December 2024, The Heritage Foundation published a comprehensive policy report authored by SFS Executive Director Joseph Humire detailing the modus operandi of the Tren de Aragua and providing policy recommendations for the Trump Administration, which include complementing state-led efforts with a robust strategy involving foreign partners and a whole-of-government approach.
DERAILING
THE TREN DE ARAGUA
SPECIAL REPORT
Joseph m. humire
SFS Executive Director and Former Visiting Fellow in the Allison Center for National Security at The Heritage Foundation.
For the Venezuelan regime, the TdA is a tool of asymmetric warfare to destabilize countries while maintaining plausible deniability.
In December 2024, The Heritage Foundation published a comprehensive policy report authored by SFS Executive Director Joseph Humire detailing the modus operandi of the Tren de Aragua and providing policy recommendations for the Trump Administration, which include complementing state-led efforts with a robust strategy involving foreign partners and a whole-of-government approach.
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