Borderland migrant shelters react to recent Tren de Aragua gang activity
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Venezuelan gang called Tren de Aragua is causing concerns among local non-governmental organizations and shelters in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez.
ABC-7 spoke with the Deputy Director of the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, John Martin, who said his organization has had no specific issues with Tren de Aragua bothering the migrants currently staying at the men's shelter or the Welcome Center.
"Our federal funders and partners have done an excellent job providing the training and orientation necessary for us to potentially identify individuals that may be problematic," Director Martin said.
ABC-7 also spoke with Sacred Heart Church's Pastor Rafael Garcia who said they've been very careful with who they let into the facility.
"If somebody misbehaves inside or that breaks the rules, we tell them to leave."
They have not seen incidents relating to international gangs in their shelter either.
"My concern is more like people outside that might be from what we could tell, could be selling drugs or could be doing other things. There have been even some symptoms of prostitution outside, but that's not new; that's been going on for a while," Pastor Garcia added.
Shelter leaders do not know if these crimes are part of any gangs, they just see things happening outside that are suspicious and it's when they call local authorities.
ABC-7 also reached out to La Casa del Migrante in Juárez to learn if they have encountered any incidents at their shelters regarding Central or South American gangs, but we have not heard back at this time.
