Roosevelt Avenue Under Siege:
A Neighborhood in Crisis
Queens’ Roosevelt Avenue Corridor has become a hub for international crime, with gangs like 18th Street,
Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, and Chinese groups controlling prostitution, drug sales, and document fraud.
Residents say the area is run with an “iron fist,” turning a vibrant immigrant community into “gangland.”
Community Resistance
The Restore Roosevelt Avenue Coalition has appealed repeatedly to federal authorities.
“We are writing to your agency again,” they told FBI Director Kash Patel, urging action against brothels and trafficking.
Spokesperson Rosa Sanchez said,
“There is no reason that our children should have to bear witness to the human tragedy of women being forced to sell their bodies… It must stop.”
Law Enforcement Challenges
Federal raids have led to arrests, but gangs quickly replace members.
NYPD’s “Operation Restore Roosevelt” reduced crime 29%, yet brothels persist.
“The mission is still incomplete,” said former state Sen. Hiram Monserrate.
National Implications
Advocates warn Roosevelt Avenue is a “blueprint” for organized crime in U.S. communities.
They argue only sustained federal intervention can dismantle networks that adapt faster than local police.
