The Department of Homeland Security has identified more than 600 migrants in the U.S. who may have connections to a notorious Venezuelan gang that is drawing growing concern from local and federal law enforcement officials, according to data obtained exclusively by NBC News.
Roughly 100 of the 600 migrants DHS has deemed “subjects of interest” were confirmed members of the gang whom the department recommended be placed on an FBI watchlist, officials said. The others could be found after a review to be victims, witnesses or members of the gang.
The Venezuelan gang, known as Tren de Aragua, or TDA, has a known presence in 15 states and a possible presence in eight others, according to the data.
Homeland Security officials began working to compile the data on TDA this spring after they saw a spike in crime by gang members in New York and other cities across the U.S. Crimes tied to the gang include sex trafficking in Louisiana and the point-blank shooting of two New York City police officers.