The Global Story How a Venezuelan prison gang became the face of Trump’s immigration crackdown
Oct 30, 2025
Jonathan Blitzer, a staff writer at The New Yorker, dives into the controversial role of the Tren de Aragua prison gang in shaping U.S. immigration policy under Trump. He discusses how Trump labeled this gang a Foreign Terror Organization, using it to justify harsh deportation measures. The conversation reveals the vague identifiers used to label gang members and explores the historical context of the Alien Enemies Act. Blitzer also highlights how events in Aurora, Colorado, intensified the national debate on immigration and public safety.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Prison Origins And Organizational Reach
- Tren de Aragua originated as a powerful Venezuelan prison gang based in Tocorón Prison that ran extortion, mining, trafficking and commanded orders from inside prison.
- The gang's structure and activities resemble other regional prison gangs but lack clear, singular identifying markers like those seen in MS-13.
Vague Identity Markers Used As Evidence
- U.S. authorities have used tattoos and popular iconography as markers of Tren de Aragua membership despite experts saying no singular identifiers exist.
- This mirrors earlier U.S. law-enforcement approaches to gangs like MS-13 and risks sweeping up innocents wearing common cultural symbols.
Aurora Video Fueled National Narrative
- A viral video from an Aurora, Colorado apartment complex showed armed young men walking menacingly down a hallway and became central to the narrative.
- The footage sparked national attention and provided the backdrop for Trump's Operation Aurora speech on mass deportations.