The Tren de Aragua gang is now taking over a Texas hotel in the border city of El Paso after reports suggest the deadly gang is invading the United States.
In just two years, there were nearly 700 police calls made at the Gateway Hotel for suspected illegal and gang-related activity. In August, police documents revealed that Tren de Aragua was responsible for "habitual criminal activity” at the property.
The El Paso Times reported an alarming rise of the Venezuelan gang as illegal immigrants continue to flood into the U.S. The outlet noted that El Paso Police Department officials suggest the “hotel has become a hub for suspected gang activity, particularly members of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua.”
The men occupying the Texas hotel had tattoos consistent with those of the Tren De Aragua gang.
Surveillance footage obtained by officials shows a man holding a hatchet while others can be seen with knives. At least one man fired a gun inside one of the rooms. The El Paso County Attorney noted that much of the criminal activity occurred in the presence of children.
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“The large volume of calls for service to a single business and State’s analysis of police reports show that the Gateway has habitual criminal activity that violates the CPRC, and additional crimes that contribute to the overall blight this business brings to downtown El Paso," the El Paso County Attorney's complaint read, adding that the property may now be prostitution and drug consumption as well.
“A video showing the deplorable state of the inside of the building and the type of activity allowed inside of the business comes from an aggravated assault case. The video shows dozens of people ‘partying’ on the 3rd floor of the hotel, drinking, smoking, and dancing provocatively while children are present,” the complaint continues. "The video also shows at least one gun being shot, another used to threaten, men holding knives, and another man with a hatchet assaulting people and causing damage to the hotel in front of a security guard.”
A judge ordered a temporary order on Monday that forces all hotel residents to leave by Thursday. The order also bars owner Howard Yun from letting people stay there. Police officials say Yun has not attempted to control the illegal activity that is happening at his hotel, which includes “people partying, drinking, smoking… dancing provocatively… at least one gun being shot, men holding knives and another man with a hatchet assaulting people, and causing damage to the hotel.”
Texas is not the only state facing a rise in gang activity. Aurora, Colorado, was also a victim of the Tren de Aragua gang after it invaded an apartment complex. New York City, Chicago, and Denver have also seen traces of the dangerous gang.