Venezuela’s Terror Ties and Why the U.S. Must Act

Trump’s Actions Against Tren de Aragua

As someone born in Venezuela, I have seen firsthand how Nicolás Maduro’s regime fuels crime, corruption, and instability - not just within the country but across the entire region. That’s why I believe President Donald Trump was right to take action against Tren de Aragua, Venezuela’s most notorious criminal group, by designating it as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). But that was just the first step. To truly confront this growing threat, we need to go further and formally designate Venezuela as a state sponsor of terrorism.

For years, the Maduro regime has empowered criminal networks, harbored terrorists, and turned Venezuela into a launchpad for organized crime. From aiding Hezbollah operatives to sheltering Colombian guerrilla groups like the ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional) and FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia), its government has made clear that it is not just complicit in terrorism - it actively enables it.

The Growing Threat of Tren de Aragua in the U.S.

For many Americans, Tren de Aragua has become a household name, synonymous with violent crime and organized terror. In the months leading up to the election, members of this Venezuelan gang made headlines for heinous crimes, including the murder of Laken Riley and the takeover of apartment complexes in Aurora, Colorado. These shocking incidents have raised urgent questions about how this group infiltrated the U.S. in the first place.

During his campaign, President Trump warned that Venezuela was deliberately sending criminals across the U.S. border. The rapid spread of Tren de Aragua suggests this isn’t just illegal immigration but a coordinated effort by Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua to weaponize migration. What was once a regional security issue has now escalated into a direct threat to U.S. national security.

President Trump’s recent executive order aims to crack down on the group’s presence, but its expansion across at least 15 U.S. states in recent years shows that stronger measures are needed. If we don’t act now, the consequences could be devastating.

Venezuela’s Use of Tren de Aragua as a Proxy

To fully grasp the threat posed by Tren de Aragua and its links to the Venezuelan regime, it’s essential to examine how the group operates beyond Venezuela’s borders. One compelling example is the case of Lt. Ronald Ojeda, a former Venezuelan military officer who had fled to Chile. Ojeda became a target of the Venezuelan regime, which extended its reach far beyond its own borders.

A few months ago, Ojeda was murdered by members of the Tren de Aragua network in Chile. After investigating the crime, Chilean authorities confirmed that the operation was funded and organized by the Venezuelan regime, specifically by Diosdado Cabello, who is considered Maduro’s second-in-command.

This incident shows how the Venezuelan government can exert its influence and carry out operations outside its borders, using Tren de Aragua as a proxy - much like how Iran uses Hezbollah. This alone should be enough to justify adding Venezuela to the list of state sponsors of terrorism. But this is far from the only example of Venezuela’s involvement in such activities.

Venezuela’s Ties to Other Terrorist Organizations

The Venezuelan regime has long been accused of aiding terrorist organizations such as the ELN and FARC from Colombia, allowing them to use Venezuelan territory as a safe haven while fleeing Colombian military operations. This collaboration has strengthened criminal and terrorist networks in the region, with dire consequences for regional stability.

Perhaps most concerning is the regime’s involvement in issuing passports to non-Venezuelan individuals affiliated with the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group. As recently noted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his Senate confirmation hearing, Venezuela has granted real Venezuelan passports to Hezbollah operatives, enabling them to travel internationally without detection.

This has created a major security threat, as it allows operatives to cross borders undetected, posing risks not only to countries in Latin America but also to the United States, which is not exempt from this threat. The danger posed by these actions underscores why the Venezuelan regime must be held accountable and designated as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Why Venezuela Must Be Added to the Sponsors of Terrorism List

Designating Venezuela as a state sponsor of terrorism would offer significant advantages in the fight against global terrorism. It would allow the U.S. government to impose stronger sanctions on the Venezuelan regime, cutting off funding to terrorist groups operating both in the region and internationally. A strong precedent for this approach can be seen with Cuba, which was re-added to the list of state sponsors of terrorism after being removed by the Biden administration. The re-designation led to severe sanctions aimed at limiting Cuba’s support for groups like Hezbollah and the ELN.

But the advantages go beyond sanctions. Adding Venezuela to the list would also enhance U.S. counterterrorism efforts against groups like Tren de Aragua operating internationally. By designating Venezuela a state sponsor of terrorism, the U.S. could assist in counterterrorism operations aimed at dismantling Tren de Aragua's operations abroad before its members infiltrate U.S. borders.

Furthermore, this designation would strengthen diplomatic efforts in Latin America. It could encourage countries like Ecuador, Peru, and Chile - all of which have been heavily impacted by criminal organizations - to work with the U.S. in counteracting the growing presence of these terrorist networks in the region. These countries would likely see the U.S.'s initiative as a positive step toward regional stability, benefiting both national security and international collaboration.

Why Venezuela Must Be Held Accountable

For too many decades, the Venezuelan regime has fueled instability throughout Latin America. While President Trump’s actions were a step in the right direction, they are not enough. Without sustained pressure on the Venezuelan state, the threat posed by Tren de Aragua and other terrorist organizations will only continue to grow.

As a Venezuelan who has witnessed the devastating effects of this regime firsthand, I believe it is in the U.S.'s national security interest to ensure that terrorist groups are eradicated from our hemisphere. The Venezuelan government, whose leaders are already wanted criminals, is no exception. Just as Cuba was a source of regional instability in the 1950s, and Iran remains a destabilizing force in the Middle East, the Venezuelan regime now represents a critical threat to the safety of American citizens and to the stability of the entire region.

The future of Latin America, and the security of the American people, depend on the choices we make today. Will the U.S. continue to turn a blind eye as Venezuela remains a haven for terror, or will it take decisive action to ensure a safer, more secure tomorrow? As someone who knows the reality of life under this regime, I can say: the time to act is now.

Erik Suarez

Economist | Policy Analyst