Chicago Police Department (CPD) has come under scrutiny recently for their handling of arrests involving members of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua (TDA). National news outlets reported on a list of TDA members who were arrested and released by CPD between January 2023 and September 2024. According to reports, these gang members were involved in various criminal activities such as drug dealing, human trafficking, gun charges, theft, and more.
CWBChicago, a local news source, obtained a copy of the list in question. The list was compiled by CPD by searching arrest reports for mentions of “Tren de Aragua” or “TDA.” This search yielded a list of 62 unique names, with 28 mentions of “Tren de Aragua” and 34 mentions of “TDA.” However, further investigation revealed that most of these mentions were due to misspellings or unrelated references. Only one individual was explicitly identified as a TDA member, but the charges against him were dropped shortly after his arrest.
The arrest reports included in the list showed that the individuals were charged with offenses like driving without a license, unauthorized vehicle registration/plate, fleeing or attempting to elude, criminal trespass to a vehicle, narcotics, warrants, possession of cannabis by a driver, traffic violations, and retail theft. Notably, none of these arrests involved serious crimes like human trafficking, gun charges, or murder.
Another list compiled by CPD included investigatory reports that mentioned “Tren de Aragua” or “TDA,” regardless of whether the individual was arrested or not. This list contained 433 cases, with 419 cases being included due to the presence of the letters “TDA” in unrelated contexts. Of the 14 cases specifically mentioning Tren de Aragua, the most serious allegations were a home invasion, a stabbing, and two aggravated assaults with handguns, all of which were suspended without charges.
While there were six murder cases on the second list containing the letters “TDA,” only two cases had charges filed, both involving individuals who were not Venezuelan. None of the cases on the list were related to human trafficking.
In conclusion, the reports and lists provided by CPD raise questions about the accuracy and relevance of the information regarding Tren de Aragua members and their criminal activities in Chicago. It is important to verify the details and ensure that appropriate actions are taken based on factual evidence.
