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NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s border czar, Thomas Homan, appeared alongside New York City’s mayor, Eric Adams, on Tuesday to announce new federal indictments against 27 individuals alleged to be members and associates of the Tren de Aragua gang.
This joint announcement underscores the increasingly close cooperation between Adams and the Trump administration, particularly regarding immigration issues. The administration recently lifted federal corruption charges against Adams to allow him to focus more effectively on Trump’s immigration initiatives, at a time when he is campaigning for reelection as an independent.
In his remarks, Trump characterized the Tren de Aragua as a militant group posing a threat to national security, invoking the rarely used Alien Enemies Act from 1798, which authorizes the deportation of noncitizens from countries with which the U.S. is at war.
“Every member of TDA should be on the run,” Homan declared, using the initials for the organization that has been implicated in numerous crimes, including extortion and kidnapping, across the Americas. The gang originated in Venezuela and has garnered attention for its violent activities.
The Adams administration has made significant moves in response to safety concerns, recently allowing federal immigration agents to operate within the Rikers Island jail complex. Homan addressed this collaboration, emphasizing the need for joint efforts to tackle significant public safety and national security challenges. “I never asked the city or the NYPD to be immigration officers. I asked them to work with us on significant public safety threats,” he stated.
However, a New York judge has ordered a temporary suspension of the plan to allow federal agencies to set up operations at Rikers pending a hearing scheduled for April 25.
In his comments, Mayor Adams maintained his resolve to eliminate violent gangs from the city, stating, “The question that we must answer: whose side are you on?” He positioned himself firmly against those causing harm and chaos, regardless of immigration status.
Prosecutors noted that the recent indictments represent the first time that federal racketeering charges—historically utilized to dismantle organized crime such as the Mafia—have been applied to the Venezuelan gang. The charges against the accused include sex trafficking, drug trafficking, robbery, and firearms offenses.
Details revealed that members of the gang were involved in smuggling young women from Venezuela into both Peru and the U.S., where these individuals were coerced into prostitution under threats of violence. Additionally, the gang has been implicated in a variety of armed robberies and drug distribution, including trafficking a dangerous substance known as “tusi,” which contains ketamine.
Of the 27 charged, 21 individuals are currently in custody, with six still at large. The indictments are categorized into two separate charges: one focusing on six alleged members of Tren de Aragua, while another targets 19 individuals affiliated with “Anti-Tren,” a faction formed by former members of the gang.
Among those indicted is Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, who was previously arrested in January during one of the initial immigration enforcement crackdowns in New York City. Authorities have linked him to a violent incident in Aurora, Colorado, where he was part of a group that forced entry into an apartment.
Adams has dismissed claims that many individuals caught in recent law enforcement sweeps are innocent of wrongdoing, asserting, “The American dream is not doing armed robberies… that’s not the American dream, and we’re not going to be a safe harbor for criminals.”
Source
abcnews.go.com