Federal law enforcement agencies have made a significant arrest of over 2,700 individuals linked to transnational criminal and terrorist organizations following a Supreme Court ruling. The operation was conducted across 94 federal judicial districts by agencies including ICE, HSI, and the FBI. Attorney General Pam Bondi highlighted the detention of members from Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The Supreme Court decision limited the ability of lower courts to issue nationwide injunctions, which previously blocked enforcement actions against gang members.
Bondi criticized past injunctions for undermining executive authority. The operation targeted multiple FTOs, including MS-13 and the Sinaloa Cartel. In April, 27 alleged TdA members were indicted on various charges, with many remaining in custody. The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned TdA leader Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, who is on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. President Trump's executive order, based on the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, facilitated the deportations. While the ruling is seen as a victory for executive power, concerns over due process persist. Narrower injunctions continue in districts based on due process concerns. The crackdown reflects the administration's commitment to national security and strict immigration law enforcement.
The arrests come on the heels of a pivotal Supreme Court ruling that has significantly curtailed the power of lower courts to issue broad injunctions that could block nationwide enforcement actions. This legal development has allowed for more effective action against organized crime and terrorist networks operating within the United States.
Among those detained in the operation were members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan prison gang that was recently designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the U.S. government. The Supreme Court's decision overturned multiple nationwide injunctions issued by five federal districts, which had previously impeded the deportation and enforcement efforts against such gang members.
"No longer will we have rogue judges striking down President Trump’s policies across the entire nation," Bondi stated during a Department of Justice press briefing on Friday. She added, "Their injunctions allowed district court judges to be emperors. They vetoed all of President Trump’s power, and they cannot do that."
The operation targeted individuals affiliated with various FTOs, including MS-13, the Sinaloa Cartel, and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. In April, the Justice Department indicted 27 alleged members of TdA on charges that encompass racketeering, narcotics trafficking, sex trafficking, robbery, and firearms violations, with many defendants remaining in custody and cases spanning several states.
The crackdown also aligns with U.S. Treasury Department sanctions against Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, a leader of TdA, who now features on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list. There is a $3 million reward for information leading to his arrest. TdA, estimated to have about 7,000 members, is known for its extensive operations in Latin America and the United States, engaging in heinous crimes such as extortion, trafficking, and murder.
President Trump's January executive order, which underpins these enforcement efforts, relies on the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. This legislation allows expedited deportations of individuals affiliated with terrorist organizations. The Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling limiting universal injunctions has cleared the path for broader enforcement, removing a major obstacle that previously allowed district courts to block nationwide executive actions.
While the ruling has been hailed by Republican leaders and law enforcement officials as a victory for restoring executive authority, critics warn that it could reduce judicial oversight and potentially endanger due process protections. Despite the aggressive enforcement measures, some judges in districts such as Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., have issued narrower injunctions based on due process concerns, temporarily halting certain deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.
Republican officials have praised the arrests as a necessary step to confront the growing threat posed by foreign terrorist organizations embedded within criminal networks. Bondi’s remarks underscored a broader commitment to national security and highlighted the administration’s determination to implement immigration laws without judicial interference.
The arrests and indictments signal an intensifying federal crackdown on violent gangs that pose serious threats to U.S. communities and national security. With the Supreme Court’s ruling providing a legal boost to enforcement agencies, officials are expected to continue targeting these groups aggressively in the months ahead.
