Overview

• A declassified National Intelligence Council memo finds the Maduro regime likely does not direct Tren de Aragua's operations in the U.S., contradicting earlier FBI assessments and Trump administration claims.
• The memo highlights that some Venezuelan officials have facilitated the gang's migration to the U.S. for personal or political motives, though this does not reflect a systematic regime policy.
• The Department of Homeland Security has identified over 600 Venezuelan migrants in the U.S. with suspected ties to Tren de Aragua, many entering during the Biden administration.
• President Trump invoked the rarely used 1798 Alien Enemies Act in March to deport more than 200 Venezuelans suspected of gang affiliations, bypassing standard legal processes.
• The memo underscores an uneasy mix of tolerance and cooperation between the Maduro regime and Tren de Aragua, driven by corruption, weak state capacity, and mutual convenience.