Trump Admin Issues Directive Targeting Suspected Members Of Tren De Aragua

ALLEGED MEMBERS OF THE VENEZUELAN GANG KNOWN AS TREN DE ARAGUA WILL REPORTEDLY BE SUBJECTED TO A NEW DIRECTIVE ISSUED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

A MEMO FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OBTAINED BY USA TODAY OUTLINED INSTRUCTIONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS NATIONWIDE ON HOW TO HANDLE THESE SUSPECTS SUCH AS ENTERING THEIR HOMES IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS WITHOUT A JUDICIAL WARRANT.

THIS DIRECTIVE, DATED MARCH 14 AND SIGNED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI, REFERENCED THE 1798 ALIEN ENEMIES ACT, A LAW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION INVOKED PREVIOUSLY TO CARRY OUT DEPORTATIONS.

THE MEMO ALSO STATED IMMIGRANTS DESIGNATED AS “ALIEN ENEMIES” ARE NOT ENTITLED TO A HEARING, APPEAL, OR JUDICIAL REVIEW AND PROVIDED A GUIDE ASSIGNING POINT VALUES TO SUSPECTED GANG AFFILIATION, INCLUDING CRIMINAL RECORDS, COMMUNICATION WITH GANG MEMBERS AND CERTAIN TYPES OF CLOTHING, GRAFFITI OR HAND SIGNS.

A DAY AFTER THE DIRECTIVE WAS ISSUED, MORE THAN 200 VENEZUELAN NATIONALS WERE FLOWN TO EL SALVADOR’S TERRORISM CONFINEMENT CENTER, A MOVE IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES HAVE DEFENDED, STATING THE REMOVALS ARE BASED ON LAW ENFORCEMENT INTELLIGENCE AND CRIMINAL HISTORIES.

HOWEVER, LEGAL EXPERTS AND IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES CLAIMED THE ADMINISTRATION’S TACTICS AMOUNT TO AN ABUSE OF DUE PROCESS AND TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS HAVE BEEN ISSUED BY FEDERAL COURTS IN COLORADO, TEXAS AND NEW YORK, BLOCKING SOME DEPORTATIONS.

MEANWHILE, THE SUPREME COURT HAS YET TO RULE BROADLY ON WHETHER THE ALIEN ENEMIES ACT GRANTS THE PRESIDENT AUTHORITY TO DEPORT ALLEGED MEMBERS OF FOREIGN CRIMINAL GROUPS.

EARLIER THIS MONTH THE COURT RULED THAT DETAINEES MUST HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE THEIR REMOVAL IN COURT.