If being safe from the violent Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang members is your biggest concern, maybe New Jersey isn’t the state for you.
When you think of New Jersey, you probably picture the shore, boardwalk fries, and maybe a few Sopranos references. But lately, the Garden State has been making headlines for something much darker: the reported presence of Tren de Aragua, a notoriously violent Venezuelan gang that’s now operating across at least 16 states, according to a leaked DHS memo.
Just in time for the holidays, with holiday shopping, travel, and online purchasing, Governor Murphy’s sanctuary state policy is complete. We could find Venezuelan street gang members in our house, under our Christmas trees.
But Phil Murphy vows he will “Fight to the death” to safeguard the illegal migrants he has been protecting since he took office.
Thanks a lot, buddy.
Let’s break this down. Tren de Aragua isn’t your run-of-the-mill street gang. This group allegedly started in Venezuela’s Tocorón prison—a literal crime HQ—and has since spread across South America before making its way to the U.S. Their rap sheet? Human trafficking, drug smuggling, violent extortion, and even apartment takeovers (yes, like something straight out of a crime drama).
So, how does New Jersey fit into this chaotic puzzle? The state’s sanctuary policies have made it a polarizing topic in the immigration debate. Critics argue that these policies create loopholes for dangerous individuals to slip through, while proponents say they protect vulnerable immigrants. Tren de Aragua’s foothold in NJ, however, has put a glaring spotlight on this issue.
One particularly grim example: the gang’s involvement in trafficking schemes and violent attacks. Just last month, reports emerged of members taking over apartment complexes in other states, violently threatening landlords and tenants. If they’re operating similarly in NJ, it’s a chilling sign of what might be happening under the radar.
The Biden administration designated Tren de Aragua as a Transnational Criminal Organization earlier this year, a move aimed at freezing their financial activities. But critics on both sides of the aisle—yes, even some who typically avoid hyper-partisanship—argue that more proactive border policies and stronger local law enforcement partnerships are needed to stem this tide.
So, what’s next for New Jersey and beyond? Governor Murphy has long defended the state’s sanctuary policies as a way to build trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement. But as calls for tougher measures grow louder, particularly with a new administration on the horizon, the debate over balancing compassion with safety is heating up.