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Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport "all Venezuelan citizens [...] who are members of Tren de Aragua", a criminal organization.

The Alien Enemies Act stipulated: "Whenever there is a declared war between the United States and any foreign nation or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion is perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States by any foreign nation or government, [...] all natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects of the hostile nation or government, [...] shall be liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as alien enemies."

The proclamation did not mention the better-known El Salvadorian gang MS-13. The Trump administration would later announce a deal to send those deported to a maximum security prison in El Salvador.

Some of the claims made by the proclamation were later disputed by the National Intelligence Council.

Rating justification

Trump's abuse of the Alien Enemies Act gives him sweeping powers to deport immigrants not otherwise available to him.

References

• Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of The United States by Tren De Aragua (whitehouse.gov)
• The Alien Enemies Act (house.gov)
• An Intelligence Memo Casts Further Doubt on Trump's Nonsensical Definition of 'Alien Enemies' (reason.com)