The suspect in the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley is showing that Venezuela’s violent gang Tren de Aragua is a family affair. Homeland Security sources revealed that both brothers of Venezuelan migrant Jose Ibarra, 26, are suspected of involvement in the notorious gang.
Argenis Ibarra, 24, is the latest brother identified as a member of Tren de Aragua. DHS identified Argenis as an active member of the gang in June. He is currently held by US Marshals on fraud charges. Tren de Aragua has exploited the southern border to infiltrate the US, recruiting in sanctuary cities like New York City.
The Post first identified Jose Ibarra as a gang member after his arrest on February 23. He is accused of killing 22-year-old Laken Riley near the University of Georgia in Athens and is set to stand trial on November 18.
Authorities also confirmed that Diego Ibarra, 29, Jose’s older brother, is a gang member. Diego was arrested for carrying a fake green card, which he allegedly used to get a job at the University of Georgia. Diego also faces charges for allegedly peeping on a University of Georgia employee the same day as the murder.
Prosecutors seek life in prison without parole for Jose. Diego, arrested after the murder, has tattoos associated with Tren de Aragua and was charged with possession of fraudulent documents, to which he pleaded guilty.
Tren de Aragua’s criminal activities in the US include gun smuggling, robberies, and attacks on cops. Law enforcement agencies received a warning last week that the gang had given its members the “green light” to shoot cops.
“They are a repeat of when MS-13 started here,” said a law enforcement source, noting the gang’s involvement in border crimes and its expansion to bigger cities.
Riley’s murder sparked national outrage over the surge in illegal immigration. The Ibarra brothers entered the US via the southern border at different times. Jose crossed illegally into El Paso on September 8, 2022, with his girlfriend and her son. He was released soon after due to a lack of detention space.
Argenis and Diego crossed into Eagle Pass, Texas on April 3, 2023, but were expelled to Mexico under Title 42. Both made subsequent crossings into El Paso and were released into the country. Diego’s release came after he allegedly assaulted a border agent, a charge not prosecuted due to his claimed “epilepsy.”
While in the US, Argenis failed to appear for Homeland Security check-ins and had his work permit application rejected. The three brothers reunited in Athens, Georgia, in November 2023.
