President Trump’s administration boldly deported hundreds of Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, bypassing a liberal judge’s attempt to halt the operation. The decisive action against the notorious Tren de Aragua gang opens a new chapter in America’s fight against criminal elements exploiting our open borders.
At a glance:
- Trump administration deported 238+ Tren de Aragua gang members to El Salvador despite a federal judge’s order
- The deportation planes were already in the air when the court order was issued
- Trump invoked the rarely used Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target Venezuelan gang members
- Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele agreed to house the gang members in El Salvador’s prisons
- Tennessee officials are actively hunting Tren de Aragua members amid their growing presence in red states
Trump’s Bold Strike Against Border-Crossing Criminals
The Trump administration made headlines by successfully deporting hundreds of Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, executing the operation despite a last-minute court order attempting to block it. Nearly 240 members of the dangerous Tren de Aragua gang were removed from U.S. soil under an 18th-century wartime declaration targeting Venezuelan criminals. Trump promised he would use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to remove dangerous gangsters from America’s streets.
When U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, an Obama appointee, issued an order to temporarily halt the deportations, two planes carrying the gang members were already airborne. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the administration had not defied any court order, stating: “The administration did not ‘refuse to comply’ with a court order. The order, which had no lawful basis, was issued after terrorist TdA aliens had already been removed from U.S. territory.”
El Salvador Partnership Tackles Growing Threat
The deportation operation points to a strong partnership between the Trump administration and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who agreed to house approximately 300 gang members in El Salvador’s secure prisons. After the judge’s belated attempt to block the deportation, Bukele took to social media and wrote: “Oopsie…Too late.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed the fiscal responsibility of the arrangement, noting: “We sent over 250 alien enemy members of Tren de Aragua which El Salvador has agreed to hold in their very good jails at a fair price that will also save our taxpayer dollars.”
https://t.co/9edeLdTXeb
The Trump administration has begun deporting 230 to 300 Venezuelans, claiming they are linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, which has been designated a foreign terrorist organization. This action, executed without court processes under the Alien Enemy Act,…— The America One News (@am1_news) March 17, 2025
Red States Fight Back Against Venezuelan Gang Expansion
Tennessee officials are leading the charge against Tren de Aragua as the gang attempts to establish footholds in quieter communities across America. Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn is vocal in her support of the deportation efforts, saying the gang is involved in violent crimes and sex trafficking throughout her state.
The Department of State has officially designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization, acknowledging its involvement in heinous crimes including murder, kidnapping, and human trafficking. Intelligence reports indicate the gang operates in coordination with the Venezuelan-based Cártel de los Soles.
Law enforcement officials note that TdA members lack specific identifiers like tattoos that traditional gangs use, making their criminal activities more difficult to detect and track. The gang expanded significantly during Tareck El Aissami’s governance in Venezuela before infiltrating U.S. cities, later relocating to smaller communities to avoid intense law enforcement scrutiny.
The Maduro regime allegedly sent Venezuelan prisoners and asylum inmates to the United States as part of a coordinated effort to disrupt American communities, with many believed to be Tren de Aragua members.
