Attorney General Wilson leads defense of President Trump’s efforts to deport violent Tren de Aragua gang using Alien Enemies Act

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson is leading a strong 25-state coalition in filing a friend-of-the-court brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in support of President Donald Trump’s lawful use of executive authority to deport members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a violent Venezuelan gang designated as a foreign terrorist organization.

“President Trump is acting decisively to protect American citizens, and we’re proud to stand with him,” said Attorney General Wilson. “For too long, America’s enemies have flooded through our open borders: violent gangs, traffickers, and foreign proxies exploiting our weakness. President Trump has plugged the holes in the boat, but we’re still bailing out water from years of federal failure. I am proud to be leading the states that are stepping up to help him stop the flood and protect our citizens before it’s too late.”

The brief argues that the President is operating at the height of his constitutional and statutory authority under Article II of the U.S. Constitution and the Alien Enemies Act to remove foreign nationals affiliated with hostile organizations. The brief underscores that this is not only a lawful use of power, but a necessary one in response to escalating violence across the nation tied to TdA.

States participating in the brief detail the ongoing harm their communities have suffered from TdA’s infiltration—ranging from murder and human trafficking to cartel-linked operations within the United States. The brief emphasizes that the gang’s expansion is not merely a public safety threat, but part of a broader campaign of hybrid warfare coordinated with the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

“This is about preserving national security and defending the rule of law,” Attorney General Wilson continued. “The Constitution vests the President with the authority, and the responsibility to act when foreign criminal organizations invade our communities. We won’t let activist courts tie the hands of our national leaders while innocent Americans are targeted.”

The coalition’s message is clear: judicial overreach must not interfere with the President’s core duty to defend the nation. The brief strongly urges the court to reject the injunction and allow federal authorities to continue removing dangerous illegal immigrants who do not belong in the country.

South Carolina is joined by: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

You can read the full brief here.