The Trump administration deported 17 alleged violent criminals tied to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and MS-13 to El Salvador over the weekend, the U.S. State Department announced on Monday.
The deportations were conducted by the U.S. military on Sunday night, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating that the individuals included murderers and rapists.
President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 on March 15 to target alleged members of Tren de Aragua, a rarely used wartime law intended to address foreign threats. However, a federal judge temporarily blocked the policy following a legal challenge by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which argued that the process used to identify gang members was flawed.
Despite the court order, the Trump administration may still use standard immigration processes for removals. The administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to lift the ban after a federal appeals court left the policy blocked last week.
The ACLU raised concerns about the Alien Enemies Validation Guide, a checklist reportedly used by U.S. immigration agents to determine gang membership. The guide includes factors such as prior criminal convictions, self-professed membership, and phone calls about gang activity. However, it also includes less reliable indicators such as tattoos, clothing, and hand gestures.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration’s methodology, stating, “There is a litany of criteria that they use to ensure that these individuals qualify as foreign terrorists and to ensure that they qualify for deportation.”
According to a list published by a Fox News reporter and confirmed by the White House, 12 of the 16 deportees had criminal convictions, one admitted to gang membership, and three were facing charges.
The deportations have sparked further debate about the legitimacy of the administration’s tactics and the legal framework used to enforce them.
Israeli air strikes in Gaza and Lebanon have raised fresh concerns about the durability of ceasefire agreements, after deadly attacks were reported in...
At least 29 people have been killed and more than 1,200 arrested during a fresh wave of unrest in Iran, a U.S.-based rights organisation says....
President Donald Trump has denied reports that Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was sidelined because of her Nobel Peace Prize win, i...
Russia launched multiple missile strikes on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second‑largest city, on Monday, 5 January, targeting energy infrastructure and caus...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 6th of January, covering the latest developments you need to k...
Israeli air strikes in Gaza and Lebanon have raised fresh concerns about the durability of ceasefire agreements, after deadly attacks were reported in both territories.
Russia launched multiple missile strikes on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second‑largest city, on Monday, 5 January, targeting energy infrastructure and causing “very serious damage,” local authorities said. The attacks occurred as world leaders prepare for a Ukraine peace summit in Paris this week.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 6th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Appearing in a Manhattan courtroom after a U.S. military operation, Nicolás Maduro has denied narcotics and terrorism charges, as his vice president was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim leader in Caracas.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to abandon comments suggesting the United States should take over Greenland, calling the idea baseless and unacceptable.
Israeli media report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chaired a lengthy security meeting that reportedly focused on the country’s regional threats, including Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.
Flights across Greece were halted for hours on Sunday after a collapse of radio frequencies crippled air traffic communication, stranding thousands of travellers during one of the busiest holiday weekends.
Germany’s foreign intelligence service secretly monitored the telephone communications of former U.S. President Barack Obama for several years, including calls made aboard Air Force One, according to an investigation by the German newspaper Die Zeit.
At the end of last year, U.S. President Donald Trump was reported to have raised the Azerbaijan–Armenia peace agenda during a conversation with Israel’s prime minister, warning that if peace were not achieved, Washington could raise tariffs on both countries by 100 percent.
President Donald Trump has denied reports that Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was sidelined because of her Nobel Peace Prize win, insisting the award played no role in his decision-making.
Russia launched multiple missile strikes on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second‑largest city, on Monday, 5 January, targeting energy infrastructure and causing “very serious damage,” local authorities said. The attacks occurred as world leaders prepare for a Ukraine peace summit in Paris this week.
Appearing in a Manhattan courtroom after a U.S. military operation, Nicolás Maduro has denied narcotics and terrorism charges, as his vice president was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim leader in Caracas.
Gunfire and explosions were reported near the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on Monday evening (5 January).
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 6th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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