Attorney General Alan Wilson leads defense to SCOTUS of President Trump’s efforts to deport violent Tren De Aragua gang 

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson co-led a coalition of 27 attorneys general in defending the Trump administration’s recent actions to combat Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The attorneys general are also calling for a stay of the district court's recent Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) that halts President Trump's actions to address this violent and dangerous newly designated foreign terrorist organization, and that the Supreme Court will rule overall to vacate the district court’s decision.   

“Labeling Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization makes it crystal clear—these aren’t just criminals, they’re terrorists operating as an arm of the Venezuelan government,” said Attorney General Wilson. “Yet, instead of supporting President Trump’s rightful authority to secure our nation, the district court is trying to tie his hands. Let’s be clear—this isn’t ordinary crime slipping through the cracks. It’s a full-scale invasion by foreign terrorists, and ignoring it puts American lives in grave danger. The Supreme Court must reaffirm that protecting our nation is the President’s constitutional duty. If they don’t, we aren’t just risking chaos—we’re leaving the door wide open for even greater threats.” 

The brief asserts that the district court’s temporary restraining order should be stayed for two main reasons: it jeopardizes public safety across the United States and our national security, and it fails to properly recognize the President's constitutional and statutory authority to protect national security.  

Attorney General Wilson stresses that the district court’s decision undermines the President’s constitutional and statutory authority. President Trump acted within his rights under the Constitution and the laws of the United States, particularly through the powers granted by Article II. These powers provide the President with the robust authority to act against foreign threats, including transnational criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua.  

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson co-led the brief with Virginia. Joining the brief were the states of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. 

You can read the full brief here.