The Push to Label Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua as a Terrorist Organization

The United States, Argentina, and Peru have asked the Organization of American States (OAS) to officially call Tren de Aragua—a violent criminal group from Venezuela—a terrorist organization.

This move aims to help countries in the Americas work together more closely to fight the gang’s growing influence. Tren de Aragua started in a Venezuelan prison and has become one of the most powerful criminal groups in Latin America.

The gang now has thousands of members and is involved in drug trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, and human trafficking. Its activities have spread to several countries, following the paths of Venezuelan migrants who have left their country due to the ongoing crisis.

The U.S. government labeled Tren de Aragua as a terrorist group in early 2025. This lets American authorities freeze the gang’s assets and arrest its leaders if they enter U.S. territory.

The U.S. Treasury has also sanctioned top members, including Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, who is wanted for crimes in Colombia. Peru led the call at the OAS meeting, with support from Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, and Paraguay.

The proposal includes sharing biometric data and financial intelligence to track and stop the gang’s operations. Officials believe this will make it harder for Tren de Aragua to move money and people across borders.

OAS Pushes for Stronger Action on Security and Human Rights

The OAS, a group of countries from North, Central, and South America, met in Antigua and Barbuda to discuss these issues. The new Secretary General, Albert Ramdin, faces pressure to make the OAS more effective in dealing with security threats and political crises.

The U.S. has criticized the OAS for not doing enough, especially about the situation in Venezuela and Haiti. At the same meeting, the OAS elected Rosa María Payá, a Cuban human rights activist, to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH).

This commission checks if countries in the Americas respect human rights and can issue urgent recommendations. Payá’s election is seen as a sign that the OAS wants to take a stronger stand on human rights, especially in countries with authoritarian governments.

These decisions show that countries in the Americas are worried about rising crime and threats to democracy. By targeting groups like Tren de Aragua and focusing on human rights, the OAS is trying to help member countries stay safe and protect basic freedoms.