National Security Advisor Mike Waltz appeared on Fox News on Monday to discuss the basis for declaring Tren de Aragua (TDA) as a terrorist.
President Donald Trump called on the Venezuelan gangster TDA on Saturday to the alien enemy law of 1798, designating its members as the “an alien enemy” in the United States, subjecting immediate arrest and deportation. When he appeared in “Ingraham’s Angle,” Waltz explained that the US government said it was the reason why TDA was designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
“Our sovereignty and the security of our citizens are central issues of national security,” Waltz told Laura Ingraham. “The average American, the people there are just trying to make their families safe.”
Waltz spoke of feedback from the community and local law enforcement agencies who said he was grateful to Trump for deporting these dangerous individuals.
“When talking about hundreds of members, violent gang members who have been tattooed are deported and they say, ‘Thank you, President Trump.’ Local law enforcement says, “Thank you, President Trump.” Our sheriff says ‘Thank you,'” Waltz said. “After all, these gang members are the arms of foreign terrorist organizations. They are no different from ISIS in ways that they rape, torture, kill, and hurt the victims. They are the same.”
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The Waltz also praised El Salvador President Naive Bukere for his aggressive measures to address gang violence, including the production of deterrent videos aimed at blocking criminal activity.
“They are frankly fortunate that they have been deported. By the way, thank you to El Salvador President Bucchere for having this problem. God for making that video will bless him,” Waltz said.
Bukere Share X’s video showing footage of soldiers leading a man with tattoos from the plane bent them towards the ground, lined up on a bus waiting with frogs, hooded prison guards shaved their heads, all set on a dramatic music soundtrack.
Today, Tren de Aragua, the first 238 members of Venezuelan crime organization, has arrived in our country. They were immediately transferred to CECOT, the Centre for the (renewable) terrorism confinement for a year.
The US will pay them very low fees… pic.twitter.com/tfsi8cgpd6
– Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) March 16, 2025
Waltz also addressed concerns about ongoing deportation flights amid legal challenges, saying the administration is working to continue these operations. He criticized previous administrative policies under former President Joe Biden. (Related: 9 suspected Tren de Aragua Gangbangers have been charged with brutal invitation)
“Let’s take down this allegation that the administration failed to comply with the legal order. They complied, number one. No. 2, this administration, this is something that everyone can imagine, that every American can imagine, that they will do everything they can to clean our streets, that Joe Biden has left us with, that wide borders, and that they will do everything they can to keep people safe,” Waltz said.
When Trump took office on January 20th, he implemented multiple executive orders aimed at curbing illegal immigration. These orders are included labeling Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations; declare National emergency at the tropical border, and order A federal agency that deploys “all available resources and authorities” to enhance border security.
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