Florida arrests first Tren de Aragua gang member under Alien Enemies Act

Franklin Jose Jimenez-Bracho, an alleged member of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang from Venezuela, became the first person arrested under the recently invoked Alien Enemies Act by President Donald Trump, according to an announcement by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE Director Todd Lyons described the TdA as a dangerous foreign terrorist organization responsible for heinous crimes in the U.S. Jimenez-Bracho is also a known human trafficker and smuggler, and his arrest is part of a broader effort to eliminate the TdA presence in the country, with over 68 gang members arrested in recent operations. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis praised the arrest, emphasizing the state's commitment to combating foreign terrorist threats. The Alien Enemies Act allows for the deportation of individuals without a hearing, a law that has been invoked during previous U.S. conflicts. Legal support for the invocation of the Act has been provided by America First Legal amid challenges from organizations like the ACLU.