The gloves have come off against Tren de Aragua, and not just in terms of deportations.
Among the first actions Donald Trump took on taking office was to designate TdA as a terror organization. That simplified deportations already in the pipeline, as that designation can accelerate the expulsion process for anyone affiliated with terror orgs. Last night, however, the Department of Justice made clear their intent to use that designation to prosecute TdA leaders on terror charges, which could result in life imprisonment in the US:
A high-ranking Tren de Aragua gangbanger was slapped with federal terrorism charges — marking the first time US authorities have levied the criminal offense against an alleged member of the notorious Venezuelan gang, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.
Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, 24, was charged in Texas federal court on a new indictment for conspiring to provide and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization — a designation President Trump assigned to Tren de Aragua in February, according to a DOJ press release.
Martinez Flores, also known as “Chuqui,” was also hit with international cocaine distribution charges for smuggling more than five kilograms across the US border.
The DoJ release paints Martinez Flores as “a high-ranking TdA leader” in its press release:
According to the allegations, Flores is charged with one count of conspiring to provide material support to TdA in the form of personnel (including himself) and services and one count of providing material support to TdA. The indictment also alleges one count of international drug distribution conspiracy based on his involvement in the distribution of five kilograms of cocaine or more, and two substantive counts of international drug distribution. …
According to information presented to the court, Flores is a high-ranking TdA leader in Bogota, Colombia, and is part of the inner circle of senior TdA leadership.
Flores also allegedly caused the delivery of approximately five kilograms or more of cocaine for international distribution, proceeds that were used to further TdA’s criminal goals.
At the moment, Martinez Flores remains in custody in Columbia, which detained him in cooperation with the DoJ’s investigation and “provisional” arrest warrant. Presumably, the grand-jury indictment will kick off extradition proceedings next. The grand jury only needs enough evidence for probable cause to issue an indictment, but if the DoJ can connect him to TdA and the drug trafficking, Martinez Flores will spend the rest of his life in prison in the US.
That’s a message that Attorney General Pam Bondi wants to send, loudly and clearly, to other TdA members and leaders, inside the US and outside as well:
“TdA is not a street gang – it is a highly structured terrorist organization that put down roots in our country during the prior administration,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s charges represent an inflection point in how this Department of Justice will prosecute and ultimately dismantle this evil organization, which has destroyed American families and poisoned our communities.”
The move to prosecute TdA on federal terror charges will almost certainly have an impact. Until Trump took office, the federal government treated TdA organized crime and terror activities as local law enforcement issues. That allowed an open season for TdA to take root in US cities, terrorizing neighborhoods while they operated with impunity. They may not rush to self-deport with this new legal threat, but some of them may well decide the juice ain’t worth the squeeze in the US any longer. And those who considered relocating here may already be thinking otherwise.
It might also give American politicians and pundits reason to reconsider their sympathies in these cases. Scott Jennings made that case last night on CNN, arguing, “If you’re explaining how you came to be sipping margaritas with an MS-13 gang banger, you’re LOSING.” Indeed.
In light of news that “Maryland man” Albrego Garcia was caught transporting 8 people in a KNOWN human smuggler’s vehicle (who he ID’d as his “boss”), I’d like to remind Democrats: If you’re explaining how you came to be sipping margaritas with an MS-13 gang banger, you’re LOSING
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) Apr 23, 2025
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