President Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act on Saturday to deport five Venezuelan nationals associated with the Tren de Aragua gang, designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. government.
The White House’s proclamation described gang as a violent group conducting “irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States.”
Democrat organizations, including Democracy Forward, challenged the administration’s use of the law, arguing that it is intended for wartime scenarios and has been historically invoked only during major conflicts.
Trump, however, says asymmetrical warfare is warfare.
Hours after the proclamation, US Federal Judge James Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order blocking the deportations, emphasizing the need for a court hearing to assess the legality of using the Alien Enemies Act in this context.
So far, roughly 250 Venezuelan gang members have been deported to El Salvador, with the US government covering the costs of their detention in the Central American nation, under an agreement with the Trump Administration.
The Alien Enemies Act, part of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, grants the president authority to detain and deport non-citizens from hostile nations, usually during wartime.
Tren de Aragua, originating in Venezuela’s prison system, has expanded its operations across South America and recently into the United States, with involvement in various violent criminal activities, including human trafficking, drug trafficking, murder, and extortion.
President Trump’s proclamation marks the first use of the Alien Enemies Act since World War II. The Act grants the President authority to detain and deport non-citizens from hostile nations without due process during times of war or invasion. The administration argues that TdA’s actions constitute an invasion, thereby justifying the Act’s invocation.
In line with the President’s directive, the Department of Homeland Security reported the arrest of nearly 300 individuals affiliated with TdA over the weekend.
Who is Democracy Forward?
In March 2017, attorneys from the Perkins Coie political law practice incorporated two organizations: Democracy Forward, a 501(c)(4) political action entity, and the Democracy Forward Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is a tax-deductible charity. The two groups share a website.
The sources and levels of funding for both Democracy Forward and its foundation remain unclear. By late 2018, the organization listed 27 employees, including a legal team of 10 attorneys, on its website, according to InfluenceWatch.org.
A 2017 report from the Washington Free Beacon outlined the creation and mission of Democracy Forward. According to the report, the organizations were designed to use litigation as a means of obstructing the Trump administration’s policies. They use the Perkins Coie law firm, which has had its security clearances removed by President Trump this month. Trump issued an executive order to end all federal contracts with Perkins Coie, which had an office in Anchorage.
The Free Beacon report alleged that the strategy behind Democracy Forward was conceived at a confidential meeting in January 2017 at a “posh resort,” attended by prominent liberal donors.
Among those reportedly involved was David Brock, a longtime Democratic operative. The Free Beacon pointed to “confidential documents” allegedly obtained from the event that indicated a broader effort among liberal donors to challenge the Trump administration through legal action.
Since its founding, Democracy Forward has been active in filing lawsuits against federal agencies during the Trump 1, and now Trump II administrations.
Democracy Forward is also involved in suing the Trump Administration to halt the terminations and reinstate federal workers.
Trading the failure of these criminal gangs for the success of Americans couldn’t be more progressive. Things in America are becoming clearer and clearer. Public sector unions are Anti-American and the Democrat Party has become a cult of deranged individuals dependent upon the entitlement system.
Dependent more, perhaps, on the corruptly funded NGOs supported by the USAID. I think the more moderate members of the D-party need to put on their thinking caps — after removing the dunce caps, of course — and evaluate the reality of events taking place before their very eyes.
Bingo!
300 individuals affiliated with TdA. No problem, move them into the democrats neighborhoods.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele tweeted a: “Oopsie… too late”
To that liberal activist judge. Poor judge got punked really bad. He should be okay, he’s a big boy.
Gotta protect their base. It’s certainly not us
Hopefully that judge is on the next flight out.
Gona be awhile before the court system is cleaned out, corruption much!