4 days ago
Family detained in Hays County raid says no gang ties existed, expert questions tattoo evidence
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Venezuelan father detained alongside his wife and two young children during a March immigration raid in Hays County maintains the family has no connection with the violent gang authorities claim they were targeting.
The operation, which took place in the early morning hours of April 1, resulted in the apprehension of 47 people, including nine minors. Federal and state authorities alleged the gathering involved members and associates of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that originated in prisons before expanding across Latin America.
VIDEO: New look at operation leading to 40 people possibly linked to Venezuelan gang arrested in Hays County
According to Texas Tribune reporter Alejandro Serrano, who interviewed the Venezuelan father, the family was celebrating birthdays at a rented house when law enforcement arrived with flashbang grenades around 5 a.m.
'He said they weren't given a reason,' Serrano told KXAN's Will DuPree. 'They were at a what he described, [as a] birthday party gathering, sort of a family and friends sort of event and in the early hours of April 1, the party was busted by a variety of law enforcement agencies.'
The father told Serrano that immigration agents later questioned him about the tattoos on his shoulders, suggesting they indicated gang membership. The man disputed this claim, explaining the star-shaped tattoos were personal choices from his youth, unrelated to any criminal organization.
Criminologists who study organized crime in Latin America question the use of tattoos as evidence of Tren de Aragua membership. Serrano spoke with two experts who research Venezuelan gangs.
'Venezuelan gangs, including Tren de Aragua, don't use tattoos as identifiers, as far as their research shows and other people's research that they pointed me to,' Serrano said.
More than 40 people possibly linked with Venezuelan gang taken into custody in Hays County
The Tribune's investigation found no criminal records for 35 of the individuals detained in the operation when their names were searched through federal, Travis County and Hays County court databases.
Only two people from the raid face state charges related to drug possesion. The remaining detainees were arrested on suspicion of illegal entry to the United States.
After 23 days in detention in Frio County, the Venezuelan family returned home wearing ankle monitors to discover significant consequences from their absence. Their landlord had issued an eviction notice, bills had accumulated and their 5-year-old son was expelled from school due to unexcused absences.
'They have removal orders, and they also have fear now that they described. They're kind of scared to do anything,' Serrano said. 'They left Venezuela because of persecution, so now they kind of describe being in this situation where they recognize they might be sent back.'
The father maintains employment with two jobs and possesses legal work permits and Social Security documentation. The family has a pending asylum case but now faces deportation orders.
The Hays County operation reflects a pattern of immigration enforcement under the Trump administration's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 against Tren de Aragua. The wartime law allows for swift deportation of suspected gang members with limited legal recourse.
More than 230 men accused of gang membership have been deported to a maximum security prison in El Salvador under this authority, though reports indicate few had documented histories of serious violent crimes.
Federal agencies involved in the Hays County operation, including ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, and FBI, have not responded to requests for comment or provided evidence supporting their gang affiliation claims, according to the Tribune.
The search warrant related to the operation contains limited information about authorities' prior knowledge, and a district court judge has sealed accompanying documents detailing the warrant request.
Court challenges to the administration's deportation authority have emerged across multiple judicial districts, creating a patchwork of rulings that have largely blocked such expedited removals. The Supreme Court has ruled that detainees must receive proper opportunities to raise legal challenges, though it has not specified required procedures.
As legal proceedings continue, the Venezuelan family remains in Austin, working to rebuild their lives while facing an uncertain immigration future and questioning why they were targeted in the first place.
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