Authorities reported Monday that at least 140 illegal immigrants were arrested during a raid on a sex and human trafficking business in San Antonio run by members of the Tren de Aragua gang (TdA).
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the raid was part of a cooperative operation including the Texas Department of Public Safety and federal and local authorities.
On Monday, a regional Homeland Security Task Force was established to battle transnational criminal organizations. The task force’s mission is to eliminate drug cartels, international terrorist organizations, and criminal networks involved in crimes such as human trafficking, drug smuggling, and money laundering.
Sunday’s raid was part of President Donald Trump’s executive order, which was issued on January 20 and targeted international criminal organizations.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers apprehended over 140 illegal immigrants from Venezuela, Honduras, Mexico, and other South American nations.
The raid involves several federal agencies.
“The Homeland Security Task Force enables the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to bring its sophisticated investigative techniques to the table, which have been instrumental in capturing the most violent drug trafficking organizations in the United States and worldwide,” said the Houston Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen.
“We look forward to working hand in hand with our federal and state counterparts in bringing down drug traffickers pumping poison into our neighborhoods and devastating our communities,” he added.
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, whose brother was mayor of San Antonio, said he has asked the Justice Department and local agencies for further details about the raid. He alleged that raids done abroad have resulted in the arrest of US residents and immigrants with no criminal record.
ICE detained 3,500 criminal illegal aliens in Houston during the 43-day government closure, including child predators and murderers.
According to authorities, the suspects in custody include 13 murderers, 51 child predators, 67 sex offenders, and 23 gang members, including an MS-13 gang member charged with a triple homicide in Dallas.