The arrival of Venezuelan migrants in Chicago’s South Side has sparked fears of an impending turf war between local gangs and their Venezuelan counterparts. According to reports, the influx of migrants has been accompanied by a rise in crime, with Venezuelan gangs, including the notorious Tren de Aragua, encroaching on territories traditionally controlled by local gangs.
Former Chicago gangster Tyrone Muhammad, now running a violence prevention program, expressed grave concerns about the situation. He warned, “When the black gangs here get fed up with the illegalities and criminal activities of these migrants or no-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.”
Local gang members shared similar concerns, highlighting the perceived advantages given to Venezuelan gangs. “They be moving in our own territory and robbing people but they don’t get arrested like we do,” said Zacc Massie, a local gang member. “I actually talked to one on the translator app. He told me all the things he got going on; how they helped him get a car, an apartment, (EBT) card, all this stuff. They giving them thousands, we get maybe $400 a month. And they don’t even have Social Security numbers!”
The fear of escalating violence is palpable. Corey Rogers, another local gang member, reported seeing Venezuelan gangsters frequently “showing the flag,” a term for brandishing firearms. He also provided text messages showing threats of turf wars between local and Venezuelan gangs. Rogers expressed frustration at the perceived unity of Venezuelan gangs compared to the internal divisions among Chicago gangs.
“What bothers me is that the Venezuelans are united,” Rogers said. “The black gangs are too divided and they take each other down.”
Others shared a sense of unease, noting that Chicago’s South Side had seen a decline in gang violence before the recent influx of migrants. “It’s still violent down here but it’s calmed down a lot,” one gang member said. “Back in the day we’d get shot if we went over there. It’s calmed down a lot. The last thing we need are the Venezuelans.”
The situation has raised concerns about the potential for increased violence and instability in Chicago’s South Side. The Chicago Police Department has not yet commented on the situation.
