Enemies at the Gate

President Trump recently invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), designating its members as “alien enemies” subject to immediate apprehension, detention, and deportation. This bold move, met with swift opposition, is an essential action rooted in national security imperatives. The gang’s designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), the Justice Department’s bounties on Venezuelan authoritarian Nicolás Maduro and Diosdado Cabello, and the evident weaponization of illegal migration against America compelled Trump to invoke this wartime authority.

Trump’s actions are not merely about combating organized crime; they are part of a broader effort to confront the destabilizing influence of Venezuela’s communist regime under Nicolás Maduro. The regime’s alignment with other communist regimes, such as Cuba and China, as well as transnational criminal enterprises like TdA underscores its role as a direct threat to the United States.

Secretary Rubio, himself an expert on Venezuelan issues, understood that the State Department had to designate Tren de Aragua as an FTO because of the gang’s capacity to destabilize communities and threaten American lives. With thousands of members deployed throughout the Western Hemisphere, TdA has been linked to murders, kidnappings, extortions, and trafficking in humans, drugs, and weapons. Originating in Venezuela’s prisons under the watchful eye of Maduro regime, TdA has exploited the mass exodus of Venezuelans to expand its operations across Latin America and into the U.S., embedding itself within illegal migrant flows.

The gang’s ties to Venezuelan communist regime’s narco-terrorism enterprise, Cártel de los Soles, amplify its danger. By designating TdA as an FTO, the Trump administration has taken one necessary step to fight back. The Alien Enemies Act, which allows the president to act decisively against foreign nationals during an “invasion or predatory incursion,” fits this threat profile precisely. 

The Justice Department’s actions against Nicolás Maduro and several Venezuelan officials underscore TdA’s broader context within Venezuela’s communist state-sponsored criminality. The DOJ has indicted Maduro and 14 officials on narcoterrorism charges, alleging they conspired to “flood” the U.S. with cocaine as a weapon against American society. The department placed $15 million and $10 million bounties on Maduro and Cabello respectively, signaling their status as fugitives orchestrating state-sponsored crimes.

Under Maduro—a leader who has openly embraced Marxist-Leninist principles—TdA flourished as a transnational criminal enterprise. Trump’s proclamation ties TdA to Maduro’s regime, asserting that it operates “directly and at the direction” of this hostile government. Years of U.S. intelligence findings support this conclusion. While critics argue that TdA is not a nation-state, the law encompasses threats from “any foreign nation or government,” making Venezuela’s hybrid communist-criminal state a fitting target.

One of the most alarming aspects of TdA’s threat is its exploitation of illegal migration as a tool of irregular warfare against America—a strategy consistent with the Cuban communist regime’ historical use of destabilization tactics. The gang took advantage of Biden’s open borders and lax immigration enforcement to embed operatives within U.S. communities—a strategy aligning with communism’s goal of undermining the United States.

With TdA operatives active in at least 19 states, terrorizing communities through violence and trafficking, their infiltration highlights vulnerabilities in border security. Critics such as the ACLU argue there is no formal “war” or “invasion” to justify invoking the Alien Enemies Act. However, the scale and intent behind TdA’s actions—backed by a communist regime that has ceded territory to transnational crime—constitute a predatory incursion by any reasonable definition. 

President Trump has responded decisively: nearly 300 TdA members have been arrested and deported under an agreement with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. This partnership leverages Bukele’s success in combating gang violence at home while providing cost-effective solutions for housing deportees.

Opponents such as U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg have blocked deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, arguing that its use is unlawful absent a declared war. However, this interpretation overlooks the law’s broader intent—to safeguard national security during crises involving foreign threats.  

The Trump Administration has an obligation to protect American citizens from violence and drugs perpetuated by operatives tied to Venezuela’s communist regime. Following President Trump’s decisive action of terminating licenses for oil-related concessions involving Chevron Corporation operations in Venezuela granted by the Biden Administration, action against the TdA was essential.

President Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act against Tren de Aragua is an imperative given the multifaceted nature of this threat. The gang’s FTO designation, its ties to Venezuela’s communist regime under Nicolás Maduro, and its weaponization of illegal migration provide ample justification for extraordinary action. Far from being an abuse of power, this decision reflects decisive leadership aimed at safeguarding American lives while confronting communism’s destabilizing influence. Critics may focus on legal technicalities or ideological opposition, but the reality on the ground demands action—and Trump has delivered it.

Yuri Perez is the Director of Latin American Studies at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. All opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position or views of VOC.