Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday said the state is launching a crackdown on Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that has drawn national attention and that the Texas Republican likened to “MS-13 on steroids.” Abbott declared the gang a foreign terrorist organization and directed the state’s Department of Public Safety to ramp up efforts to halt its operations in Texas.

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX) — Texas Governor Greg Abbott is cracking down on a Venezuelan gang that state officials said are taking over. Abbott held a news conference, alongside Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw, regarding the Tren De Aragua gang.

Gov. Greg Abbott proclaimed Tren de Aragua as a “Tier 1″ threat, calling it among the most dangerous and organized gangs operating in Texas.

Governor Greg Abbott designates Tren de Aragua as an FTO in Texas, citing the group's violent crimes and threats to the state.

At a press conference in Houston, Abbott signed a proclamation designating the group as a “foreign terrorist organization.” He pointed to recent arrests at a hotel in El Paso, where the county attorney said no specific gang had taken over.