Gang Invasion STOPPED—Federal Agents Strike Hard

Person in handcuffs with colorful lights in background.

A coordinated federal raid in San Antonio targeting the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua netted 140 illegal immigrants in what authorities describe as the largest operation yet against this rapidly expanding transnational criminal organization on U.S. soil.

Story Highlights

Federal agents arrested 140 undocumented immigrants including suspected gang members, sex offenders, and fugitives
The operation targeted Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan prison gang that has expanded across the Americas
Nine federal agencies coordinated under the newly formed Homeland Security Task Force in South Texas
Texas Governor Greg Abbott promises “more of this to come” as part of escalating enforcement efforts

Dawn Raid Exposes Criminal Network

At 2 a.m. on November 16, 2025, federal agents descended on a commercial food truck area near San Pedro Avenue and Basse Road in San Antonio. The court-authorized operation involved marked and unmarked vehicles plus helicopters, creating a dramatic scene that local residents described as overwhelming. Within hours, authorities had detained individuals from Venezuela, Honduras, Mexico, and other South American countries.

The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations led the operation under the newly established Homeland Security Task Force in South Texas. This marks the task force’s first major operation since its creation under President Trump’s Executive Order 14159 signed in January 2025.

Venezuelan Gang’s American Expansion

Tren de Aragua originated within Venezuela’s prison system before evolving into a sophisticated transnational criminal organization. The gang operates through contract killings, extortion, human smuggling, and other organized crime activities across South America. Their expansion into American cities exploits migration routes and vulnerable populations fleeing economic collapse.

Law enforcement officials describe the gang’s rapid growth as unprecedented among South American criminal organizations. Unlike traditional cartels focused on drug trafficking, Tren de Aragua diversifies across multiple criminal enterprises while embedding within immigrant communities for cover. This strategy makes detection and disruption particularly challenging for American authorities.

Multi-Agency Coordination Yields Results

Nine federal agencies participated in the operation including the FBI, HSI, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, ATF, CBP, Coast Guard, IRS, and U.S. Attorney’s Office. Texas Department of Public Safety provided crucial intelligence that enabled the search warrant, while San Antonio Police assisted with local coordination. This level of cooperation represents a significant escalation in federal anti-gang efforts.

Among those arrested were individuals with alleged criminal backgrounds including sex offenders, child predators, murderers, and fugitives. ICE took custody of all detainees pending further investigation and possible prosecution. The operation also resulted in vehicle and property seizures, though specific details remain under investigation.

Political Response and Future Operations

Texas Governor Greg Abbott publicly endorsed the raid, stating “More of this to come” in reference to continued aggressive action against transnational gangs. This signals Texas’s commitment to supporting federal enforcement efforts under the Trump administration’s hardline approach to immigration and border security.

The success of this operation validates the multi-agency task force model that federal authorities plan to replicate nationwide. FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran emphasized the operation as demonstrating law enforcement’s capability to disrupt sophisticated criminal networks through coordinated intelligence and enforcement actions.