A federal raid at an underground nightclub in San Antonio nabbed more than 150 illegal immigrants, including 27 suspected Tren de Aragua gang members.
The bust took place Nov. 16 at an after-hours illicit club known to be popular with TdA members. Law enforcement officers seized cocaine, three firearms and approximately $35,000 in cash, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shared details of the operation on the agency’s website and social media, which involved 14 state, local and federal agencies and resulted in the arrest of more than 150 illegal immigrants.
ICE and FBI Texas team-up at Tren de Aragua nightclub takes down 27 suspected TdA gang members among 150 illegal aliens arrested:
Law enforcement also seized cocaine, three firearms and about $35,000. pic.twitter.com/dfwo15cR0o
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) November 21, 2025
DHS released names of some Venezuelan nationals and suspected TdA members, noting they all illegally entered the U.S. during the Biden administration even after some were previously deported.
They have convictions for larceny and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault with a weapon as well as arrests for theft and illegal reentry, DHS said.
“Thanks to the brave work of DHS law enforcement and our federal partners, 150 illegal aliens including 27 suspected Tren de Argua gang members are off our streets,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, DHS is dismantling criminal gangs and stopping dangerous drugs from pouring into American neighborhoods.”
A new regional Texas Homeland Security Task Force, co-led by ICE, Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, helped execute a federal search warrant at the underground club and process individuals who were arrested.
In a post on X last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the raid was tied to a sex and human trafficking organization from Tren de Aragua.
Texas Department of Public Safety joined with federal and local officials to raid a TDA sex and human trafficking operation in San Antonio.
About 200 illegal immigrants were apprehended.
More of this to come. https://t.co/YILlBD9wEF
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 17, 2025
Abbott said the raid was part of a joint operation between the Texas Department of Public Safety and federal and local authorities, Fox News Digital reported.
Initial investigations by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the underlying state case led to the search warrant executed during the operation, HSTF-South Texas officials said in a news release.
The regional HSTF task forces have been established across the country to coordinate efforts to protect the homeland, in response President Donald Trump’s executive order: “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.”
Their focus is to investigate and dismantle criminal networks involved in human trafficking, drug smuggling and money laundering.
“The Homeland Security Task Force plays a critical role in safeguarding the American people and combating transnational criminal organizations,” said the HSI San Antonio Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Lippa. “By enhancing coordination, HSI and its law enforcement partners will focus on dismantling drug cartels and terrorist organizations to protect communities nationwide.”
Photos from the raid show people standing outside in a parking lot as well as being lined up along a wall inside. The club is near Basse Road and San Pedro Avenue on San Antonio’s North Side.
The majority of the illegal immigrants arrested are from Venezuela, Honduras, Mexico and other South American countries and remain in ICE custody, HSTF said.
Besides the suspected TdA members, two suspects were being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations for human smuggling and money laundering, and one under DEA investigation for cocaine trafficking, The Center Square reported.
The HSTF-South Texas task force includes investigators from field offices throughout Texas working for the FBI, HSI, DEA, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Marshals Service, ATF, CBP, Border Patrol, the U.S. attorney’s office for the southern and western districts of Texas, the IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, Texas DPS, and South Texas-HIDTA.
An investigation by HSTF-South Texas members led to a superseding indictment and federal charges for money laundering against a Utah father and son.
They were indicted for conspiring to materially support a Mexican cartel and FTO by engaging in oil theft in south Texas as well as money laundering and related smuggling charges
In the indictment, the government seeks forfeiture of approximately 77,000 barrels of crude oil, $2.5 million in funds, and a $300 million money judgement, according to task force officials.
Also, on Oct. 23, 2025, HSTF-South Texas made a weapons bust in the Laredo area, intercepting 534 firearms, 31,482 rounds of ammunition, 525 magazines, 40 scopes, four lasers, 10 rifle slings and other related items.
They were allegedly headed into Mexico. Two men were arrested and charged with smuggling firearms, ammunition, magazines, firearms accessories, and trafficking of firearms.
The collaborative initiative brings in the investigative resources of multiple agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, which has been “instrumental in capturing the most violent drug trafficking organizations in the United States and worldwide,” said the Houston Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen in a statement.
“We look forward to working hand in hand with our federal and state counterparts in bringing down drug traffickers pumping poison into our neighborhoods and devastating our communities,” Pullen added.
Federal court records first reported by KSAT-TV show that Marcos Contreras-Max and Edwin Chinchilla-Lopez have been charged with illegal reentry from Honduras.
DHS also released the names of some of the “worst of the worst” arrested:
Jeison Javier Perez, a suspected Tren de Aragua gang member from Venezuela who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration and convicted of larceny.
Yoibert Geraldo Caldera Pulido, a suspected Tren de Aragua gang member from Venezuela. His criminal history includes an arrest for theft.
Brayann Ibraynn Morales-Rodriguez, a previously removed criminal illegal alien and suspected Tren de Aragua gang member from Venezuela who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration and arrested for illegal entry.
Willy Yoel Arteaga-Tabares, a suspected Tren de Argua gang member from Venezuela who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration on or about January 7, 2025.
Roiberth Jesus Campos Duran, a suspected Tren de Aragua gang member from Venezuela who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration on June 7, 2023.
Yormary Paola Aguilar Fuentes, a criminal illegal alien from Venezuela who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration and convicted of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault with a weapon.
Marcelo Gomez-Gonzalez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico and previously removed THREE TIMES during the Trump administration, convicted of smuggling aliens.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Texas, ICE Houston announced that nearly 3,600 criminal illegal aliens, including child predators and murderers, were arrested in southeast Texas during the 43-day government shutdown.
ICE nabbed 13 people convicted of murder, 51 child predators, 67 sex offenders, 10 wanted fugitives and 23 gang members, including an MS-13 gang member charged with a triple homicide in Dallas, authorities said.
“Our entire team understands how critical ICE’s mission is to public safety and national security, and despite many of them going without pay, they continued to show up every day and give everything they had to protect this community from dangerous criminal illegal alien gang members, child predators, murderers and rapists,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operation Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford.
