The US has used a checklist, known as the “Alien Enemy Validation Guide,” to identify members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang and deport them under the Alien Enemies Act. The guide, submitted by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), is a points-based system that assesses migrants’ ties to the gang. Migrants scoring eight or more points are deemed “validated as members” of TdA.
The checklist includes categories such as “Criminal Conduct and Information,” “Self-Admission,” and “Judicial Outcomes and Official Documents.” It assigns varying quantities of points for different types of evidence, including electronic communication with a known gang member. The document indicates that even migrants scoring six or seven points may still be considered members after consulting with a supervisor.
The ACLU claims the government’s intel on TdA is internally contradictory. They argue that some documents indicate certain items, such as Chicago Bulls attire, are part of Venezuelan culture and not indicators of gang membership. The organization requests a preliminary injunction to bar the administration from deporting migrants under the Alien Enemies Act.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/documents-show-trump-admin-identifies-venezuelan-gang-members/story?id=120319762