President Trump’s crackdown on Tren de Aragua gangsters just got a judicial green light. On May 13, 2025, a federal judge upheld his use of a 1798 law to fast-track deportations of these Venezuelan thugs. It’s about time someone put the “enemies” in the Alien Enemies Act to work.
Breitbart reported that U.S. District Judge Stephanie Haines ruled that Trump’s administration can wield the Alien Enemies Act to expel suspected Tren de Aragua (TdA) members, though detainees get 21 days’ notice and a chance to plead their case.
This balances swift action with a nod to due process. No one’s crying for these narco-terrorists, but fairness keeps the woke critics at bay.
In March 2025, Trump issued a Proclamation labeling TdA a Foreign Terrorist Organization, accusing them of a “predatory incursion” against America. The move invoked the 1798 law, which hasn’t seen this much action since powdered wigs were in style. Turns out, old laws can still pack a punch.
Trump’s March Proclamation didn’t mince words, calling TdA a Maduro-backed menace hell-bent on destabilizing the U.S. with murders, kidnappings, and trafficking.
The Secretary of State’s designation of TdA as a terrorist group gave the claim teeth. Venezuela’s narco-puppets aren’t exactly winning hearts and minds here.
Judge Haines agreed, noting TdA’s actions fit the 1798 law’s definition of a hostile invasion. She called it a “cohesive group” disrupting public safety, quoting her ruling: “predatory incursion.” That’s legalese for “these guys are bad news.”
“In light of all of the foregoing, this Court reaches the following definition of ‘predatory incursion’ under the AEA: ‘a hostile entry into the United States by a cohesive group… united by a common goal of causing significant disruption,’” Haines declared. She’s not wrong—TdA’s rap sheet reads like a crime novel. The court’s fidelity to 1798’s intent shuts down any liberal whining about “outdated” laws.
But Haines threw in a catch: detainees need proper notice and hearings. The Trump team slipped up on this, failing to give an adequate heads-up to those facing the boot. Actions have consequences, even for the MAGA machine.
Now, deportees get 21 days’ notice, bilingual notifications, and Spanish-to-English interpreters. It’s a small price to pay to keep the process bulletproof. No one wants a bleeding-heart judge derailing this over a technicality.
“The Court finds that that definition is faithful to the meaning of ‘predatory incursions’ in 1798, but it also accounts for new applications given ‘changes in the world,’” Haines added. She’s saying the law’s old but not obsolete. Smart move, keeping the woke crowd from screaming “antiquated!”
Trump’s Proclamation tied TdA to Venezuela’s Cártel de los Soles, a narco-terror outfit sponsored by the Maduro regime. “TdA is undertaking hostile actions… at the direction… of the Maduro regime,” Trump stated. That’s not just crime; it’s warfare by proxy.
The court backed this up, citing the Secretary of State’s terrorist designation as proof that TdA’s a unified threat. “Most of all, the Proclamation references the fact that the Secretary of State has designated TdA as an FTO… a designation that heavily supports the conclusions,” the court document noted. Case closed—TdA’s not just a gang, it’s a national security risk.
TdA’s crimes—murders, extortions, human and drug trafficking—aren’t exactly petty theft. The Proclamation accused them of thousands of members illegally crossing into the U.S., wreaking havoc. Open borders, anyone? This is what happens when you let the welcome mat fray.
Not everyone was on board—several judges tried to block Trump’s deportation push since March. In April 2025, the Supreme Court stepped in, overturning a block by Judge James Boasberg. The highest court’s message? Stop coddling criminals.
With Haines’ ruling, the Trump administration now has a clear path to deport TdA members, provided they follow the court’s notice rules. It’s a win for law and order, even if the left will cry “inhumane.” Funny how they’re silent when TdA’s victims beg for justice.