Tue Nov 19 12:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Tennessee Law Enforcement Sounds Alarm on Rise of Violent Venezuelan Gang

**Nashville, TN** – A surge in activity by the violent Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA), is alarming Tennessee law enforcement. The gang’s presence in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga has prompted warnings from officials who blame the porous southern border for the increase.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Director David Rausch stated on Fox & Friends that the gang, initially identified in a human trafficking operation two years ago, has returned and expanded its criminal activities. These now include organized retail theft and drug trafficking, leading to violent clashes with cartels. Rausch described the situation as a “game of cat and mouse” that is becoming increasingly dangerous.

Director Rausch highlighted the gang’s blatant disregard for law enforcement, citing attacks on officers across the U.S. He emphasized the limitations faced by law enforcement, particularly the inability to detain suspects without immigration detainers. He warned Governor Bill Lee about the resurgence during a recent budget hearing.

This concern echoes a recent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommendation to add over 100 migrants with potential TdA ties to the FBI’s watchlist for Transnational Criminal Organizations. DHS has identified over 600 individuals with possible links to the gang.

The Tren de Aragua gang, originating in Venezuela’s Tocoron prison, has a growing presence in multiple South American countries and now the U.S. Its expansion and increasingly violent criminal activities are raising significant concerns for law enforcement across the nation.

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