The Trump administration on Thursday announced sweeping sanctions against the leader of Tren de Aragua and several of his top lieutenants.
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the head of Tren de Aragua and popularly known as “Niño Guerrero,” along with five of his close associates, according to a press release by the Treasury Department. The announcement marks the latest action by the Trump administration against the ruthless Venezuelan crime syndicate, which has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
“Today’s action highlights the critical role of leaders like Niño Guerrero and his lieutenants in Tren de Aragua’s efforts to increase its destabilizing influence throughout the region,” Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said in a public statement. “The Trump Administration will not allow Tren de Aragua to continue to terrorize our communities and harm innocent Americans.”
“In line with President Trump’s mandate to Make America Safe Again, Treasury remains dedicated to dismantling Tren de Aragua and disrupting the group’s campaign of violence,” Bessent continued.
Along with Guerrero, the sanctions issued Thursday target high-ranking members Yohan Jose Romero, Josue Angel Santana Pena, Wilmer Jose Perez Castillo, Wendy Marbelys Rios Gomez and Felix Anner Castillo Rondon, according to the Treasury Department. Many of them have allegedly been linked to terrorism, homicide, narcotics trafficking and a slate of other crimes.
Guerrero expanded Tren de Aragua from a small prison gang in Venezuela to an international criminal syndicate that threatens public safety throughout the entire Western Hemisphere, according to the Treasury Department. The international gang is involved in human smuggling, the illicit drug trade, sexual exploitation of women and children, extortion, money laundering and a slate of other criminal activity.
“As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons is blocked and must be reported to OFAC,” the Treasury Department press release stated. “In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.”
Having taken advantage of the border crisis fomented under the Biden administration, the gang has made a well-known presence in American society. There are hundreds of migrants suspected of having ties to Tren de Aragua now living in the U.S., according to internal Department of Homeland Security documentation.
As a testament to how powerful the gang has become in some areas of the country, Tren de Aragua members are alleged to have taken over an entire apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, in 2024, terrorizing locals in the process. Law enforcement officials have since accused members of kidnapping and other heinous activity across the country.
The Trump administration has made a concerted effort to dismantle the gang at home and abroad, as part of its overall fight against illegal immigration and migrant-related crime.
The State Department in February officially designated Tren de Aragua — along with MS-13, the Sinaloa Cartel and other criminal syndicates — as a foreign terrorist organization, opening up more resources for the Trump administration to go after them. Federal prosecutors have since hammered the gang with several high-profile arrests and charges.
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