Houston Daily

Governor Greg Abbott has announced the arrest of four members of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). The arrests occurred on New Year's Eve as the individuals attempted to illegally cross into Texas.

"Our top priority is the safety and security of Texans, including against the growing threat of Tren de Aragua," stated Governor Abbott. He further emphasized, "I designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organization, and we will not tolerate this gang operating or gaining a foothold in Texas."

The incident took place on December 31, 2024, in Val Verde County where DPS troopers encountered a group of 22 illegal immigrants from Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. Among them, 11 were arrested for criminal trespass while family groups were referred to Border Patrol.

A subset of nine Venezuelan nationals claimed they intended to travel to San Antonio, Irving, and Corsicana in Texas. During interviews with DPS Special Agents, tattoos and cell phone searches confirmed that four males were members of TdA.

The arrested individuals include Segundo Ocando-Mejia, Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo, Antonio Joe Urruttia-Rojas, and Levi Jesus Urrutia-Blanco. Ocando-Mejia's tattoos suggested he might hold a leadership position within the gang.

In response to this threat, Governor Abbott launched an operation targeting TdA activities across Texas. He also designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organization and instructed DPS to elevate them to Tier 1 status while forming a specialized team for their identification and arrest.

Governor Abbott's Public Safety Office is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of known or suspected TdA members involved in criminal activities.