BELLAIRE, TX – A Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua (TdA) is casting a shadow over Houston, particularly at its colleges, with a recent arrest highlighting deeper concerns about the gang’s influence in local communities.

On Monday, the Texas Department of Public Safety arrested Jorgenys Robertson Cova, 32, of Venezuelan descent who entered the United States illegally two years ago. Cova is suspected of recruiting middle school students from Jane Long Academy and Las Americas, both located in the Houston Independent School District.

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Residents of the Bellaire community, where the schools are located, have expressed concern about the growing threat. Janice, a local resident, remarked, “A lot of things have been happening on the news, so if it’s happening elsewhere, it could also be happening in our neighborhoods, and we’re not aware of it.” The community’s sense of security has been shaken by the news, as they call for increased intervention from police and authorities to avoid escalation into “a serious situation,” Janice noted.

“I think it’s bad for the neighborhood and for the community and I think the police and the authorities need to do something before we get to a serious situation,” said another neighbor.

The gang’s activities are not limited to Houston. In recent weeks, members of Tren de Aragua have been arrested in Colorado, New York, Chicago, San Antonio and El Paso, a testament to the organization’s transnational reach, which has posed significant challenges to Tren de Aragua’s forces. the order to identify its members.

The tension felt by Hispanic communities following these developments is palpable. A local resident highlighted the negative stereotypes that such criminal activities can reinforce, saying in Spanish that innocent Central American immigrants “often pay the price for the bad actions of other immigrants” and expressed hope that authorities could effectively solve this problem.

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“As Hispanics, we pay the price for everything. They treat us as delinquents, as bad people, and unfortunately it’s because our own people give us a bad name,” said another neighbor.

The governor’s office has weighed in on the matter, with Gov. Greg Abbott’s office offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of known or suspected Tren members of Aragua who have been or are involved in criminal activities and pose a threat. growing danger to the public safety of Texans.

Learn more about TdA and what the state is doing to combat it, here.