El Paso delegation addresses growing concerns over Tren De Aragua gang presence

The closure of Gateway Hotel in downtown El Paso has raised concerns about a Venezuelan gang that is alleged to have been active there. El Paso's Congressional delegation said they understood why there was concern over the presence of Tren De Aragua.

"Obviously, that particular gang, their presence, it's unsettling," Congresswoman Veronica Escobar said.

In a statement, Congressman Tony Gonzales said in part, "Every day, Tren de Aragua gains more ground in our country and El Paso is clearly on the market for this dangerous gang. That's why I have pushed hard to designate TDA as a transnational criminal organization."

Court records show that "while Gateway has operated as a hotel for the past six years, it has done so without a valid certificate of occupancy and in violation of city requirements." Crimes committed at the hotel in just the past two years include 11 involving a controlled substance, 10 aggravated assaults, two terroristic threats, and one indecency with a child.

Escobar said she's still gathering information from law enforcement.

"There's gang presence, all over the country, a number of different criminal organizations," Escobar said. "That's not good news obviously, we never want anything like that. That's been the case for decades."

Escobar added she believes a lot of the story is receiving exaggerated coverage from conservative media.

I do know that the story has been blown out of proportion by some national right wing media outlets.

She said the County Attorney was following standard practices.

"The process that the County Attorney's office engaged in is not unusual. Even when I was county judge, the county attorney's office would file these legal processes in order to address nuisances. Whether it be prostitution, whether it be drug dealing, anything that had excessively diminished public safety or quality of life."

If you are a veteran in need of help accessing your benefits, Escobar said you can contact her office through her .