News
Time to Evict Immigrant Gang Members
In a bold move to protect American citizens from the rising threat of violent illegal immigrant street gangs, on Saturday, March 15, 2025 President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. This historic wartime law, previously utilized during the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II, grants the president sweeping authority to detain and deport individuals deemed a threat to national security from hostile nations. Trump’s proclamation specifically targets members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), a group the administration has classified as a foreign terrorist organization due to its brutal criminal activities across the United States.
A Necessary Response to a Growing Crisis
The decision comes as communities nationwide grapple with the devastating impact of TdA, which has been linked to murders, kidnappings, extortion, and trafficking of drugs, weapons, and humans. In Aurora, Colorado, for instance, TdA members have reportedly overtaken apartment complexes, extorting residents by charging "rent" in exchange for so-called protection. As of September 11, 2024, the Aurora Police Department had connected the gang to nearly a dozen individuals, resulting in eight arrests, including two linked to a shooting in July 2024 at a property plagued by TdA activity. This is not an isolated incident—reports of TdA’s influence have surfaced in cities like Chicago, New York, and Denver, signaling a coordinated infiltration that demands a decisive federal response.
Under President Trump's proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act, all Venezuelan citizens aged 14 or older who are TdA members, present in the U.S., and not naturalized citizens or lawful permanent residents, can be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as "alien enemies." This bypasses the cumbersome bureaucratic processes of standard immigration law, allowing swift action against those who exploit America’s porous borders to wreak havoc on its citizens.
A Campaign Promise Fulfilled
Trump’s invocation of the 1798 law fulfills a pledge made during an October 2024 rally in Aurora, where he vowed to launch "Operation Aurora" upon taking office. At that event, he promised to use the full might of federal and state law enforcement to dismantle every migrant criminal network operating on American soil. The president’s action underscores his commitment to restoring law and order, a cornerstone of his administration’s agenda after years of unchecked illegal immigration under previous leadership left communities vulnerable.
The White House has emphasized that TdA’s operations are not merely random acts of crime but part of a broader strategy tied to the socialist regime of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. The gang collaborates with the Cártel de los Soles, a narco-terrorism enterprise sponsored by Maduro’s government, which uses mass illegal migration to destabilize the U.S. and harm its citizens. This connection elevates TdA from a street gang to a national security threat, justifying the use of wartime powers to neutralize it.
Liberal Judiciary Strikes Back
However, within hours of Trump’s proclamation, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., threw a wrench into the plan. Chief Judge James Boasberg, an Obama appointee, issued a temporary restraining order blocking the deportation of five Venezuelans under the act, claiming it couldn’t be applied in this context. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Democracy Forward, two left-leaning organizations, had preemptively filed a lawsuit, arguing that the U.S. is not at war and that the law’s use represents an overreach. Boasberg even ordered a deportation flight believed to be carrying the five to return to the U.S., though the administration later clarified that 261 deportees, including 137 alleged TdA members, had already been sent to El Salvador under a separate agreement before the ruling.
Conservatives see this judicial interference as yet another example of activist judges undermining the safety of Americans to appease progressive agendas. The Alien Enemies Act was designed for moments like this—when foreign entities threaten the nation’s sovereignty—and Trump’s supporters argue that the judiciary has no business meddling in executive authority over national security.
A Historical Precedent for Modern Times
The Alien Enemies Act, signed into law by President John Adams, was last used extensively during World War II, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt invoked it to intern over 31,000 individuals of Japanese, German, and Italian descent deemed potential threats. While that application remains controversial, its intent—to protect the homeland during times of crisis—resonates with Trump’s current strategy. The law allows the president to act unilaterally when a foreign nation or its agents perpetrate an "invasion or predatory incursion," a threshold the administration argues TdA’s actions clearly meet.
Data backs up the urgency: U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported over 2.4 million migrant encounters at the southern border in fiscal year 2023 alone, a record high that has fueled the influx of criminal elements like TdA. The Department of State’s designation of TdA as a transnational criminal organization in July 2024 further solidifies the case for extraordinary measures.
The Fight Continues
As the legal battle unfolds, with a hearing scheduled for Monday, March 17, 2025, in Washington, D.C., Trump remains undeterred. The administration has already secured a deal with El Salvador, paying $6 million to imprison 300 alleged gang members, including TdA operatives, in its notorious mega-prison for a year. This move not only removes dangerous individuals from U.S. streets but also sends a message to other would-be criminals crossing the border: America will no longer be a safe haven for lawlessness.
For conservatives, Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act is a long-overdue stand against the chaos unleashed by open-border policies. While critics decry it as authoritarian, supporters hail it as a patriotic defense of the nation’s integrity. As the president presses forward, the clash between executive resolve and judicial resistance promises to shape the future of America’s fight against illegal immigrant crime.