Radio host Charlamagne Tha God questioned why anyone would oppose the Trump administration’s deportation of criminal gang members after President Donald Trump used the Alien Enemies Act to remove Tren de Aragua (TdA) members from the U.S.
United States District Judge James Boasberg issued an injunction Saturday, ordering the administration to turn back two planes reportedly carrying TdA members en route to El Salvador. However, Charlamagne suggested on The Breakfast Club that energy would be better spent opposing other deportations rather than fighting the removal of violent criminals.
“This [is] why I want to know more when it comes to the deportations. Because deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes, I understand that,” Charlamagne said. “So why are folks fighting about gang members being sent away?”
He added, “Like, there are some other deportation cases, I’m sure they could be fighting about, like folks who’ve been in this country for a long time, not committing no crimes, paying taxes, but have gotten caught up in the process. Those are folks they should be fighting for. Why are they raising hell about a gang being deported?”
The Alien Enemies Act grants the president broad authority to deport individuals from enemy nations without standard procedures. Trump invoked this authority on his first day in office, signing an executive order designating TdA, MS-13, and other criminal organizations as foreign terrorist groups.
Following the deportations, Democratic senators released a statement Monday condemning the move. “Let’s be clear: we are not at war, and immigrants are not invading our country,” they wrote. “Furthermore, courts determine whether people have broken the law—not a president acting alone, and not immigration agents picking and choosing who gets imprisoned or deported.”
Border czar Tom Homan defended Trump’s actions, calling them necessary for national security. “President Trump, by proclamation, invoked the authorities of [the] Alien Enemies Act. Which he has a right to do and it’s a game changer and we removed over 200 violent criminals from the United States,” Homan said. “The actions of President Trump made this country safer. Every criminal alien, every criminal public safety threat and national security threat removed from [the] country makes this country safer.”
El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele confirmed Saturday that his country received 238 TdA members and 23 MS-13 members, including two gang ringleaders.
