The first group of 238 alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang have been deported to El Salvador, where they were placed in a maximum-security prison. Former President Trump praised the operation while criticizing the Biden administration. El Salvador’s President Bukele has entered into a unique agreement with the U.S. regarding the detention of dangerous criminals in his country.
The first group of accused members from the Tren de Aragua gang, whose departure was overseen by former U.S. President Donald Trump, have been transported to a maximum-security facility in El Salvador. El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele confirmed that 238 alleged members of the Venezuelan criminal organization were deported and welcomed them to the country via social media with images of their arrival at the Terrorism Confinement Center.
Dramatic footage released by President Bukele illustrated the somber reception these individuals received upon arrival in El Salvador. After their arrival, they were immediately placed in a high-capacity prison designed for maximum security. Trump expressed his gratitude towards Bukele for accepting these criminals, emphasizing the need to address the implications of past immigration policies under the Biden administration.
In Trump’s social media remarks, he referred to these deported individuals as “monsters sent into our Country by Crooked Joe Biden and the Radical Left Democrats.” He expressed approval of Bukele’s actions to confront the situation, condemning what he described as the incompetence of Democratic leadership that allowed criminal elements to infiltrate America.
This deportation initiative follows a temporary legal development in which a U.S. District Judge blocked the application of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which would allow for the expedited removal of alleged gangsters without a court hearing. However, Trump’s administration issued the flights to El Salvador before the ruling took effect, resulting in their departure being categorized as outside U.S. airspace.
Recently, the U.S. government accepted an extraordinary arrangement with President Bukele to deport a range of dangerous criminals to El Salvador’s mega-jails. This bilateral agreement not only facilitates the transfer of member groups like the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 but also includes provisions for U.S. citizens who were convicted of serious crimes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed this arrangement as an unprecedented agreement in global immigration relations.
The Tren de Aragua is recognized as a transnational criminal organization identified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by U.S. authorities. With an estimated membership of over 5,000, this gang has transitioned from its origins in Venezuela’s prisons to wider criminal enterprises, engaging in drug trafficking and illegal mining operations. Its founder, Hector Guerrero Flores, remains at large after escaping a government raid in 2023.
The recent deportation of Tren de Aragua members to El Salvador highlights the international efforts to combat transnational crime and addresses deep-rooted immigration issues. Former President Trump’s remarks reflect ongoing tensions regarding U.S. immigration policy, while El Salvador’s President Bukele takes a proactive stance in managing criminal elements within the country. This case underscores the complexities involved in dealing with international criminal organizations and the ramifications of both domestic and foreign policies in addressing such crimes.
Original Source: www.thesun.co.uk
