New York, United States – Two migrants charged in the violent assault on two NYPD officers in Times Square are reportedly members of the Venezuelan street gang “Tren de Aragua,” according to federal immigration officials. Wilson Juarez, 21, and Kelvin Servita-Arocha, 19, have been identified as members of this notorious gang and are being held without bail by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
ICE spokeswoman Marie Ferguson stated that both Juarez and Arocha are “unlawfully present Venezuelan citizens” who have been charged with the violent gang assault on the two NYPD officers. Both individuals were apprehended by immigration agents inside a Bronx apartment after law enforcement executed an arrest warrant for another asylum seeker wanted in connection with the Times Square attack.
This revelation comes after a second migrant linked to the Times Square attack was the second to be ordered held without bail in New York City. Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, 19, initially released without bail after the attack, was later arrested for allegedly shoplifting at a Queens Macy’s department store.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and respecting those who enforce it. In response to the recent developments, Patrick Hendry, president of the NYPD Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, expressed outrage, stating that the migrant suspects have no regard for the law or for police officers.
As the investigation unfolds, police have identified at least one other migrant who remains at large in connection with the incident and another as a person of interest. Additionally, the NYPD has issued warnings about the Tren de Aragua gang infiltrating the city after members have entered the country seeking asylum. Authorities are investigating the possibility of other migrants being affiliated with Tren de Aragua.
The situation has raised concerns about the presence of violent transnational criminal organizations within the United States, prompting calls for heightened vigilance in monitoring migrants entering the country. The NYPD has emphasized the importance of holding all individuals involved in the assault accountable, as the criminal justice system now handles the cases.