Don’t miss the full story from our staff writers, whose reportage is the basis of this article.
A newly declassified U.S. intelligence memo contradicts President Trump’s claims about the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), undermining his justification for using the Alien Enemies Act to deport gang members. The April 7 National Intelligence Council report, released Monday, states that while the Maduro regime allows TdA to operate in Venezuela, it does not maintain close ties with the gang, cooperate with it as policy, or direct its U.S. operations.
The intelligence analysis further reveals that reports of regime leaders’ involvement with TdA are “not credible,” and the Maduro government actually views the gang as a threat rather than an ally.
This directly contradicts the president’s public statements and proclamation that triggered the Alien Enemies Act deportations.
The Trump administration has labeled TdA a foreign terrorist organization and claimed it is part of an “invasion” orchestrated by Venezuela’s government. Based on this reasoning, approximately 200 Venezuelans were deported to El Salvador in March.
Immigration advocates have challenged these assertions, arguing that Mr. Trump exaggerated TdA’s organizational capabilities and wrongly claimed foreign government control. Without these elements, they contend the deportations under the Alien Enemies Act are illegal.
Two federal judges have ruled against Mr. Trump’s interpretation, finding that TdA fails to meet the “invasion” test required by the law. Most recently, U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein issued a preliminary injunction, stating that TdA’s criminal activities do not constitute an invasion or predatory incursion as defined by the Act.
Judge Hellerstein criticized the March deportations to El Salvador, describing how deportees are held “in a notoriously evil jail, unable to communicate with counsel, family or friends.” Vanessa Cardenas of America’s Voice called President Trump’s claims a “fabricated lie” used to deny due process.
While the Justice Department has filed RICO cases against TdA for crimes including extortion, firearms and drug trafficking, and human smuggling, with Attorney General Pam Bondi calling it a “highly structured terrorist organization,” the intelligence memo characterizes TdA differently. According to intelligence analysts, the group operates in small cells focused on “low-skill criminal activities” and is not significantly involved in human trafficking or smuggling.
Read more: Intelligence community disputes ties between Tren de Aragua and Venezuela’s government
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
