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.

Governor Abbott signed a proclamation declaring the gang as a foreign terrorist organization. He noted that El Paso is in the middle of the issue, saying that law enforcement has made more than 20 arrests at or around the Gateway Hotel and the state is developing a database to track suspected TDA gang members.