U.S. Intelligence Refutes Trump's Claims on Tren de Aragua Gang

Recently declassified U.S. intelligence contradicts former President Trump's claims that the Venezuelan government directly controls the Tren de Aragua (TDA) gang or directs its operations in the United States. The National Intelligence Council memo, released in April, concludes that while Venezuela allows a permissive environment for gangs, there is no evidence of a policy of cooperation or command relationship between the Maduro regime and TDA. The intelligence further notes that Venezuelan law enforcement has, at times, taken actions against TDA, treating it as a threat rather than an ally. Trump's justification for invoking the Alien Enemies Act—which led to the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelans to a Salvadoran prison—was based on the now-disputed assertion of Venezuelan government control of TDA. Immigration advocates and newly released intelligence argue that, without proof of government orchestration, the legal basis for these mass deportations is undermined. The memo also challenges claims that TDA poses a significant national security threat, describing the gang as decentralized and primarily focused on low-skill criminal activity.