Two suspected members of the violent Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang who live at New York City migrant shelters were busted in a gun and drug raid earlier this month – and have since been cut loose on lesser charges that may end without prosecution, according to police, court documents and the New York Post.

Police tell Fox News Digital that Jose Tamaronis-Caldera, 27, and Richard Garcia, 33, were arrested in the Feb. 5 raid on a Big Apple auto repair shop where a Glock handgun, two imitation pistols, and a large quantity of drugs were found. 

Both are reputed members of the Venezuelan migrant TdA gang, which has been terrorizing cities across the nation, the New York Post reports, citing sources. The NYPD was unable to confirm their purported gang membership to Fox News Digital. 

Jose Tamaronis-Caldera, 27, left, and Richard Garcia, 33, right.  (Provided by New York Post)

“The DA’s office reviews all evidence and charges as warranted,” the Queens DA’s Office said in a statement. “In this case, the weapon charge against defendant Nieves is for an unloaded firearm and is not bail-eligible. Our office asked for supervised release and the judge granted supervised release.”

“The charges against the other two defendants, Garcia and Tamaronis-Caldera, are for possession of an air pistol and are not bail eligible.”

Police said that Tamaronis-Caldera and Nieves live at the Crowne Plaza JFK Airport hotel-turned-migrant shelter, while Garcia’s address was given as the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan, which also operates as a migrant shelter.

Tamaronis-Caldera and Garcia crossed the U.S. border illegally in 2023, but were then released, federal immigration sources told the Post. Fox News has reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for more information. 

Richard Garcia’s address was given as the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan, which also operates as a migrant shelter. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

A law enforcement official was roiled that the trio are facing lesser charges.

“These are not misguided individuals,” the official told the Post. “They’re documented members of a known violent criminal enterprise, a gang who has planted their flag here by entrenching themselves in narcotics, gun and human trafficking — and the best we can do is let them out?”

“If we did our jobs with criminals, we wouldn’t have ICE scouring our streets for detainees.”

Migrant-related crime spiked under the Biden administration amid unprecedented levels of border-crossers streaming into the country, mostly via Mexico.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told Fox News late last month that a TdA ringleader was busted in an immigration raid in the Bronx and was trying to buy grenades.

“He had just been a part of a gun weapons exchange and was trying to buy grenades,” Noem said. “Why would anybody in this country need to buy a grenade and go out and perpetuate violence?”