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President Donald Trump published a proclamation on Friday accusing Nicolás Maduro's regime of collaborating with drug trafficking and facilitating the operations of the criminal group Tren de Aragua in U.S. territory.
Trump invoked the proclamation the Alien Enemies Act, a law that grants him broad powers to act against foreign nationals deemed a threat to national security.
In the document, the leader declared that the Tren de Aragua (TdA) is a foreign terrorist organization responsible for conducting an irregular war against the United States, with support from the Maduro regime and the Cártel de los Soles, a drug trafficking network linked to high-ranking Venezuelan officials.
"The Tren de Aragua has infiltrated the United States through massive migratory flows, destabilizing public security and supporting the criminal objectives of Maduro's regime," Trump stated in the official document issued by the White House.
As part of the declaration, he ordered the immediate arrest and deportation of all members of the Tren de Aragua in the U.S. who are not citizens or legal residents.
It also established that all properties and assets related to the criminal organization be confiscated by the U.S. government.
He also instructed the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security to implement these measures within a maximum period of 60 days, in collaboration with state and local authorities.
Trump accused Maduro of leading a "narcodictatorship" that uses the Tren de Aragua as a criminal arm to expand drug trafficking and other criminal activities in the region.
The proclamation notes that the expansion of TdA occurred during Tareck El Aissami's tenure as governor of Aragua (2012-2017) and later as vice president of Venezuela.
El Aissami was designated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury as an international drug trafficker and is currently a fugitive from U.S. justice.
According to the proclamation, Maduro and the Cartel of the Suns have orchestrated a strategy to "flood the U.S. with drugs," using organizations like the one mentioned to facilitate the trafficking of narcotics, weapons, and people across borders.
Trump's announcement coincides with the designation of six Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Gulf Cartel, Northeast Cartel, New Michoacan Family, and United Cartels. Also included was Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), another transnational criminal organization.
The U.S. State Department indicated that these organizations pose an "extraordinary threat" to the security of the country and that their activities include murders, kidnappings, extortion, and drug and human trafficking.
With this statement, U.S. authorities will be able to take a harsher stance against these groups and impose stricter sanctions on those who collaborate with them.
Trump's statement has sparked immediate reactions in the international community. While some countries in the region have expressed their support for measures against organized crime, the government of Venezuela described the proclamation as a "baseless attack" and denied any connection to drug trafficking or the Tren de Aragua.
On its part, the Mexican government has expressed its concern over the designation of cartels as terrorist organizations, fearing that this could pave the way for greater U.S. intervention in the country's internal affairs.
Frequently Asked Questions about Trump's accusations against Maduro and the Tren de Aragua
Why does Donald Trump accuse Nicolás Maduro's regime of collaborating with drug trafficking?
Donald Trump has accused Nicolás Maduro's regime of collaborating with drug trafficking due to the alleged alliance of the Venezuelan government with the Cártel de los Soles and criminal organizations such as the Tren de Aragua. Trump claims that these groups are flooding the U.S. with drugs and that Maduro uses the Tren de Aragua as a criminal arm to support his illegal activities.
What is the Tren de Aragua and why has it been declared a terrorist organization?
The Aragua Train is a criminal organization that originated in a Venezuelan prison and has expanded across several countries in South America. Donald Trump has designated it a terrorist organization due to its drug trafficking, arms and human trafficking operations, and its alleged collaboration with the Maduro regime to destabilize public safety in the United States.
What measures has Trump taken against members of the Tren de Aragua in the United States?
As part of his proclamation, Trump has ordered the detention and deportation of all members of the Tren de Aragua who are not citizens or legal residents of the U.S. He has also mandated the confiscation of their properties and assets in the country, and has instructed the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to implement these measures within 60 days.
How has the international community reacted to Trump's statements?
The international community has had diverse reactions to Trump's statements. Some countries in the region have supported measures against organized crime, while the government of Venezuela has described the proclamation as a "baseless attack." Mexico, for its part, has expressed concern over the designation of Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations, fearing increased U.S. intervention in its internal affairs.
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