The Trump administration has invoked a 227-year-old law, the Alien Enemies Act, to target Tren de Aragua, a gang with its roots in the prisons of Venezuela. Who are they and how wide is their reach?

Tren de Aragua (TDA), the infamous street gang founded in Venezuela whom President Donald Trump invoked when he announced his usage of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport suspected members, has made dangerous inroads in New York City.

When the U.S. government deported 177 Venezuelans on Feb. 20, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security alleged that 80 of the deportees were members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. U.S. news outlets report that members have set up shop in at least 16 states and are “wreaking havoc on communities across the nation.