Trump admin transfers 17 alleged illegal alien gang members to El Salvador

The U.S. military recently transferred a group of 17 alleged members of Tren de Aragua and MS-13 to El Salvador from Guantanamo Bay on Sunday night, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio mentioned in a statement that the group included individuals with a history of murder and rape. He also stated that in order to protect the American people, the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 had been designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, ensuring that these criminals would no longer pose a threat to communities and citizens.

One of the individuals transferred to El Salvador was Keivis Jesus Arrecheder Vasquez, a Venezuelan national believed to be a leader of Tren de Aragua. Vasquez is facing two criminal charges related to drug trafficking. Additionally, six other alleged Tren de Aragua members were also part of the transfer. All individuals involved were either citizens of Venezuela or El Salvador, with some having pending criminal charges and others already convicted.

Senior White House officials clarified that these transfers were carried out under Title 8, rather than the Alien Enemies Act. They emphasized that all individuals had deportation orders or final orders of removal, ensuring compliance with a federal judge’s order halting deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.

U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg recently extended a restraining order against the use of the Alien Enemies Act by the Trump administration for deporting violent gang members with alleged gang ties. Despite this, the Trump administration proceeded with the transfers to El Salvador, maintaining that they were targeting illegal alien criminals to ensure the safety of American citizens.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to pursuing illegal alien criminals, stating that President Trump’s leadership was making America safer every day. The administration’s stance is clear – those who are illegal terrorists or criminals will be pursued and held accountable.

In light of these developments, it is evident that the Trump administration remains steadfast in its efforts to address national security concerns and uphold the rule of law. The transfer of alleged gang members to El Salvador underscores the administration’s dedication to protecting American communities from criminal elements.