Chicago: Local gangs clash with immigrant gangs like Tren de Aragua

A report by The New York Post argues that illegal immigrants in Chicago's south side are competing with the city's gangs, and there are fears of a turf war.

The news outlet interviewed Tyrone Muhammad, a former Chicago gangster who spent 20 years in prison and now runs a street patrol and violence prevention program called "Ex-Cons for Community and Social Change." Muhammad says Venezuelan criminal gangs taking over buildings are the last straw for the struggling African-American community.

"When the black gangs here get fed up with the illegalities and criminal activities of these migrants or non-citizens, the city of Chicago is going to go up in flames and there will be nothing the National Guard or the government can do about it when the bloodshed hits the streets. It’ll be blacks against migrants," he assured, adding, "It is impossible to release gang members and criminals into our country through the borders and broken walls and infiltrate them in our community that’s already impoverished and broken."

The controversy is growing as more and more violent gangs are taking over living complexes and gaining ground in the city. Complaints to the local government are also multiplying. According to reports by local media outlets such as NBC 5 Chicago News, data from the city of Chicago show that the city has spent more than $400 million in the past two years on immigrants, with most of that money going to private companies that helped forge lease agreements or provided staffing for immigrant shelters.

Local Chicago gang sources told the The New York Post that Venezuelan gang members are often heavily armed and have begun to spread into areas traditionally controlled by local gangs. "There’s been a lot going on with [the migrant gangs] that nobody’s even hearing about," Zacc Massie, a member of a local Chicago gang, said. "They be moving in our own territory and robbing people but they don’t get arrested like we do."

Rev. Corey Brooks, who established a group called Project Hood at his New Beginnings Church more than 20 years ago, told The New York Post last week at his church that "Chicago is a blue city and Illinois is a blue state but people are starting to wake up." He continued: "It’s not about the person, it’s about the policies. I’ve seen what’s happening with my own eyes when it comes to the migrant criminal gangs and it’s very concerning."