Trump’s Banished Tren de Aragua Gang Members Arrive in El Salvador
The first group of deported members of the Tren de Aragua gang has arrived in El Salvador. President Nayib Bukele confirmed the arrival of 238 individuals as part of a crackdown on organized crime. Former President Trump criticized the current administration’s border policies in relation to this development, emphasizing the cooperation between the U.S. and El Salvador.
In a recent development, the first group of individuals affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang, who were expelled under former President Donald Trump’s directives, have arrived at a high-security facility in El Salvador. President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador confirmed that 238 alleged members of the Venezuelan criminal organization were deported, showcasing footage of their arrival amid a heavy police presence. The deportees were immediately transferred to the Terrorism Confinement Center, which has a capacity for 40,000 inmates.
Trump showcased the dramatic videos of these men being taken into prison while denouncing President Joe Biden’s administration, alleging they allowed gang members to infiltrate the United States. Trump expressed gratitude to Bukele for addressing what he described as a severe situation and emphasized the perceived failures of Democrat leadership regarding immigration and security matters.
Furthermore, these deportations occurred promptly after a federal judge temporarily halted the provision of the Alien Enemies Act, a law from 1798 aimed at expelling undocumented individuals without court hearings. The U.S. administration determined that the ruling was not applicable to these extradition flights as they had already departed towards El Salvador.
El Salvador’s arrangement to accept U.S. deportees from various nationalities positions it uniquely within the region. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called this exchange an unprecedented migration agreement. During previous discussions, Bukele proposed taking on not only alleged gang members but also some of the most dangerous criminals currently held in the U.S., under the condition they be convicted and a nominal fee charged to the U.S. government.
The Tren de Aragua is characterized as a transnational criminal organization that has been officially designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Founded by Hector Guerrero Flores, this gang has expanded its operations beyond prisons, engaging in drug smuggling and illegal mining, amassing significant profits from these criminal ventures. As of 2023, Flores has evaded capture since escaping during a governmental raid on the prison where he was detained, which had been overtaken by gang operations, including the establishment of a nightclub and other facilities.
The extradition of Tren de Aragua gang members to El Salvador marks a significant effort by both the U.S. and Salvadoran governments to address organized crime. President Trump criticized the Biden administration for its border policies while praising El Salvador’s response to gang-related threats. With the agreement in place, this situation has set a precedent for international cooperation against transnational crime. The Tren de Aragua’s expansive criminal reach continues to pose challenges for both nations.
Original Source: www.thesun.co.uk
