The White House announced that President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to address what he called an "invasion" of the United States by the foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA). The statement from the Press Secretary described the Venezuelan gang as "one of the most violent terrorist groups on Earth," accusing it of committing heinous crimes, including the murders of Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray.
The statement emphasized that President Trump, as Commander-in-Chief, utilized his authority to protect Americans from this "direct national security threat." Over the weekend, the Department of Homeland Security arrested nearly 300 TdA members, while the Department of State facilitated their deportation to El Salvador, ensuring they no longer pose a danger to the U.S.
The administration underscored Trump’s commitment to prioritizing American safety, vowing that "foreign terrorist enemies will not operate on U.S. soil" and that their networks "will be destroyed." This move comes amid legal controversy, with a federal judge temporarily halting the act’s use, though the administration insists on continuing its national security efforts.