March 15, 2025 Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of The United States by Tren De Aragua - Executive Order

Key Facts & Figures:

• The executive order declares Tren de Aragua (TdA), a transnational criminal organization originating in Venezuela, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under U.S. law.

• The U.S. government asserts that TdA has thousands of members, some of whom have illegally entered the United States and are conducting activities classified as irregular warfare and hostile actions against U.S. citizens.

• TdA is reportedly linked to the Cártel de los Soles, a narcotics enterprise allegedly sponsored by the Maduro regime in Venezuela, and is accused of participating in murders, kidnappings, extortions, and trafficking of humans, drugs, and weapons.

• The U.S. government has identified Nicolas Maduro and former Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami as key figures in enabling TdA’s operations.

• In December 2024, INTERPOL Washington recognized TdA as a significant threat, citing its role in infiltrating U.S. migration flows from Venezuela.

  
  

Policy Actions & Directives:

• Designation of Alien Enemies:

  • Venezuelan nationals 14 years or older who are members of TdA and are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents are classified as alien enemies under the Alien Enemies Act (50 U.S.C. 21 et seq.).

  • Such individuals are subject to immediate apprehension, detention, and removal from the United States.

    
    

• Law Enforcement & Agency Coordination:

  • The Attorney General is directed to establish and communicate this policy to federal, state, and local authorities within 60 days.

  • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) are given full authority to apprehend, detain, and deport TdA members.

  • All U.S. law enforcement agencies are instructed to collaborate to enforce this policy.

    
    

• Legal and Financial Measures:

  • The property of identified TdA members that is linked to criminal or terrorist activities is subject to seizure and forfeiture.

  • The order bars any TdA-affiliated individuals from entering or residing in the U.S.

    
    

Rationale for the Action:

• The order cites national security concerns, arguing that TdA’s activities constitute an invasion or predatory incursion into the U.S.

• The drug trafficking operations of TdA and its affiliates, particularly Cártel de los Soles, are framed as an intentional effort to destabilize the U.S..

• The directive is based on existing federal authority under the Alien Enemies Act, a law dating back to 1798, allowing the President to restrict or remove individuals deemed a national security risk during times of conflict.

  
  

Potential Impacts:

• National Security: The order strengthens efforts to combat organized crime and transnational threats.

• Immigration Policy: It could lead to increased deportations of Venezuelan nationals suspected of criminal affiliations.

• Legal & Civil Liberties Concerns: The broad application of the Alien Enemies Act raises questions about due process rights and how individuals will be identified and classified as TdA members.

• U.S.-Venezuela Relations: The proclamation further escalates tensions between the Biden administration and Nicolas Maduro’s government, potentially affecting U.S. policy in Latin America.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/invocation-of-the-alien-enemies-act-regarding-the-invasion-of-the-united-states-by-tren-de-aragua/

Writer's Note: Summary made with the use of AI tools for editing and quick processing, facts checked against the order before publishing.