Former President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day back in office, January 20, 2025, targeting the notorious Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA). This move aims to classify the group, along with others like MS-13, as "foreign terrorist organizations." The order cites TdA as an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economy.
This executive action empowers government agencies, including the Treasury Department, to comprehensively target TdA's operations within the United States. The order specifically emphasizes the goal of completely eradicating TdA's presence in the country and disrupting its ability to threaten U.S. security.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been tasked with formulating policy recommendations within 14 days, consulting with the Treasury and Homeland Security secretaries, the Attorney General, and the Director of National Intelligence. These recommendations will inform the final decision on designating TdA and other groups as foreign terrorist organizations.
Experts view this executive order as a significant step towards dismantling TdA's operations. Jose Gustavo Arocha, a former Venezuelan military official, believes this is a crucial move in neutralizing the group's disruptive activities. Joseph Humire, author of a report on dismantling TdA, highlights that this designation elevates TdA to a top national security priority, allowing the U.S. to target their funding sources and enablers.
This strong stance is seen as a necessary deterrent against TdA’s criminal activities. Furthermore, the order signals imminent action to apprehend and dismantle TdA’s presence across the United States.
Targeting TdA’s financial resources is crucial to crippling the organization. By cutting off their funding, the government can effectively disrupt their operations, hindering their ability to pay members, bribe officials, and acquire weapons.
This executive order not only targets the direct perpetrators of violence but also those who provide material support to the organization, further weakening their network.
