US Designates Tren de Aragua as Foreign Terrorist Organization Amid Security Concerns

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On March 15, 2025, President Donald Trump officially designated Tren de Aragua (TdA) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), citing significant national security concerns. The announcement details TdA’s alleged involvement in illegal activities, including drug trafficking, kidnappings, and other violent crimes impacting public safety in the United States.

In a lengthy proclamation, Trump described TdA, which has purportedly infiltrated the U.S. through irregular migration, as a critical threat working in concert with the Venezuelan government led by Nicolas Maduro. The designation allows for the apprehension and removal of any Venezuelan citizens who are members of TdA, facilitating a more rigorous approach to address the challenges posed by this group.

“TdA is conducting irregular warfare against the United States and is aligned with the criminal regime of Maduro,” Trump stated. “Our objective is to protect the American people from the dangers that infiltrate our borders and undermine our democracy.”

The proclamation mentions Tareck El Aissami, the former governor of Aragua and current fugitive, as a significant figure in TdA’s rise, stating that under his governance, the group expanded. El Aissami is officially designated as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker and is linked to the Maduro regime’s illicit activities.

Maduro himself is implicated in the narcoterrorism charges filed against him and other regime members, related to orchestrating operations intended to destabilize democratic nations in the Americas. The U.S. has indicated that TdA’s violent and criminal ventures pose a substantial danger to American citizens and national security.

According to Trump, in December 2024, INTERPOL confirmed TdA’s emergence as a major threat, infiltrating migration flows from Venezuela and conducting systematic criminal activities in the U.S. “Evidence irrefutably demonstrates that TdA has invaded the United States and continues to threaten our safety,” stated Trump.

The proclamation outlines the actions the U.S. government will take to address the threat, including the immediate apprehension and removal of TdA members who are found in the U.S. and are not lawful residents.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has been directed to prepare a letter declaring this policy and to involve federal law enforcement across the nation to ensure compliance. “All executive departments will use lawful means to address this threat and remove hostile elements from our country,” Bondi emphasized.

The Justice Department is expected to collaborate closely with Homeland Security to carry out the directives pertaining to TdA members. Bondi reinforced the commitment to uphold public safety and the rule of law in light of the growing concerns regarding illegal immigration and organized crime.

The implications of this designation stretch beyond immediate law enforcement actions, as it poses critical questions about the balance of power between national sovereignty and immigration policies. The ongoing situation emphasizes the complexity of addressing transnational crime while protecting legitimate asylum seekers.

As the U.S. government ramps up its efforts to combat transnational crime, experts will be watching closely how these new policies will affect both immigration patterns and domestic security in the coming months.