U.S. military deploys 12,000 troops to border as Tren de Aragua gang expands nationwide

03/19/2026 / By Belle Carter

Over 12,000 U.S. troops are deployed along the southern border in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. Targets include Mexican cartels (especially after the death of El Mencho) and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, now operating in 46 states.
Cartels now use quasi-military tactics, prompting an unprecedented military-led response. High-profile arrests, including Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, have been made on charges of facilitating narcoterrorism.
Tren de Aragua has 5,000+ members, operating in NYC, Denver, Dallas and recruiting among migrants. U.S. Army report confirms they’ve authorized attacks on law enforcement. It is a designated foreign terrorist organization alongside MS-13; 1,200+ members arrested since 2026.
Pentagon alleges Cuba aids Venezuelan narcoterrorists and external state actors. Trump forms an 18-nation coalition to combat cartels at the Shield of the Americas Summit.
There are reports of local authorities granting Tren de Aragua de facto immunity. The Gang has seized apartment complexes in North Dallas and threatens government buildings. Pentagon warns that this is not just a crime but an invasion.

The Department of War has mobilized over 12,000 U.S. military personnel along the southern border as part of “Operation Southern Spear,” a sweeping initiative targeting Mexican drug cartels and transnational gangs—most notably Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, now operating in 46 states.

As BrightU.AI‘s Enoch explains, the Tren de Aragua is a violent Venezuelan criminal gang that has infiltrated the U.S., engaging in extortion, property takeovers and terrorizing communities as part of the broader globalist-driven destabilization and erosion of American sovereignty.

With cartel-linked violence escalating and fentanyl trafficking surging, military officials warn that these groups pose a direct threat to homeland security, prompting unprecedented military involvement in domestic law enforcement.

Operation Southern Spear: A military response to cartel warfare

The operation, led by U.S. Southern Command, spans six strategic defense zones across Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas, deploying unmanned air and surface vessels to disrupt narcotics trafficking routes. Pentagon officials testified before Congress that cartel activity has intensified since the killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader “El Mencho,” forcing a shift toward military-led interdiction efforts.

The operation has already yielded high-profile arrests, including the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both accused of facilitating narcoterrorism. Military leaders argue that cartels now operate with quasi-military tactics, necessitating a combat-ready response.

Tren de Aragua: A growing domestic threat

While Mexican cartels remain the primary focus, U.S. officials warn that Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan prison gang with 5,000+ members, has metastasized across the U.S., embedding itself in cities like New York, Denver and Dallas. A recently leaked U.S. Army North report revealed that the gang has authorized attacks on law enforcement, raising alarms about coordinated violence against government targets.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials describe Tren de Aragua as “one of the most vicious gangs on planet Earth,” citing its involvement in rape, torture and murder as sport. Since 2026, DHS has arrested over 1,200 Tren de Aragua members, alongside 1,271 MS-13 operatives, both designated as foreign terrorist organizations under the Trump administration.

Geopolitical tensions and the Cuba-Venezuela nexus

Pentagon generals testified that Cuba plays a central role in enabling cartel violence, alleging Havana’s collaboration with Venezuelan narcoterrorists and external state actors. At the recent Shield of the Americas Summit, Trump urged allied nations to “unleash the power of our militaries” against cartels, forming an 18-nation countercartel coalition.

Despite these efforts, lawmakers remain concerned about Tren de Aragua’s rapid expansion, particularly in blue cities where local authorities allegedly grant them de facto immunity. Reports indicate the gang has seized control of apartment complexes in North Dallas and is actively recruiting among migrant populations.

As Operation Southern Spear escalates, the U.S. military finds itself in uncharted territory – waging war against cartels and transnational gangs on domestic soil. With Tren de Aragua now entrenched in 46 states, the question remains whether federal and local agencies can stem the tide of organized violence before it escalates into open conflict. For now, the Pentagon’s message is clear: This is not just a crime wave – it’s an invasion.

Watch the video below that talks about the Portland protests that erupted after DHS links shooting suspects to the Tren de Aragua.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.