A recent assessment by U.S. intelligence agencies has found no evidence of coordination between the Tren de Aragua gang and the Venezuelan government, challenging claims previously made by the Trump administration. These assertions were used to justify the application of the Alien Enemies Act for deporting Venezuelan migrants. The comprehensive assessment, prepared by the National Intelligence Council and drawing on input from 18 intelligence agencies, indicates that the gang, which originated in a Venezuelan prison, does not receive support or direction from President Nicolás Maduro or top Venezuelan officials.
While some minimal contact between the gang and lower-level Venezuelan government members was noted, the assessment concluded that no significant coordination exists. The FBI was the only agency among the 18 that did not concur with these findings, though such differences in intelligence assessments are not uncommon.
This assessment emerged as the Supreme Court recently upheld the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, allowing for the deportation of Venezuelan migrants under certain conditions, including court hearings. The Tren de Aragua gang has been implicated in various criminal activities across the Western Hemisphere, contributing to the migration of millions of Venezuelans due to economic decline.
The Alien Enemies Act, dating back to 1798, grants the president the authority to imprison and deport noncitizens during wartime. Historically, it has been invoked sparingly, including during World War II for the internment of Japanese-Americans. The American Civil Liberties Union has legally challenged the current administration’s use of this law, arguing that it cannot be applied to a criminal gang rather than a recognized state.
Despite the new intelligence findings, President Donald Trump has continued to assert that the Tren de Aragua gang is deeply integrated with the Maduro government, asserting its infiltration into Venezuela’s military and law enforcement. Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed these claims, describing the gang as an extension of the Venezuelan government and justifying the use of the wartime law.
Last month, the administration deported over 130 men, accused of gang affiliation, to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act. These individuals did not receive the opportunity to contest their deportation orders, and their attorneys argue there is no proof of their gang membership. The Trump administration has labeled the gang and several other criminal organizations as “foreign terrorist organizations.”
The Washington Post first reported the latest intelligence assessment, which adds to the complex dynamics surrounding U.S. immigration and foreign policy regarding Venezuela.
