Texas leaders develop new database to stop ‘threats’ from Venezuelan gangs

HOUSTON (KXAN) — Texas Governor Greg Abbott discussed Texas’ new database aimed at stopping the “threat” of Venezuelan gangs entering the United States, according to a press release from the governor’s office.

Abbott held a press conference Monday morning to announce the database. He was joined in Houston by Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw, Texas Border Czar Mike Banks, Houston Police Department Chief J. Noe Diaz and National Border Patrol Council Vice Chairman Chris Cabrera.

According to Abbott, more than 3,000 migrants from Venezuela have been arrested in Texas since 2021.

Abbott focused his argument on the “evil Venezuelan gang” Tren De Aragua (TDA).

“We must address this looming challenge head on,” Abbott said.

According to a report from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service, the number of reports of single adults at South Texas borders fell by 27.9% in 2024.

According to a recent report from News Nation, TDA began nearly a decade ago in a Venezuelan prison. TDA has since grown into what state and federal officials are calling a “transnational criminal organization.”

“TDA is known for brutal violence, murder, kidnapping, extortion, bribery, and drug, weapons and even human trafficking,” Abbott said.

According to Abbott, the state of Texas and several other state and federal agencies, through a partnership, discovered that TDA had been given the “green light” to shoot U.S. police officers.

Abbott announced that Texas, in collaboration with state and federal government agencies, is developing a database that will identify which immigrants are affiliated with TDA.

“We will build that database by looking at common characteristics that TDA shares. Some of those characteristics include tattoos, scars, blemishes, types of crime and methods of surgery,” Abbott said.

To tackle TDA head-on, Abbott ordered DPS to upgrade TDA to a Level 1 gang designation. This would give DPS the resources to stop the growing “gang.”