Trump seeks to deport Venezuelan gang members

31/1/2025 6:18

U.S. President Donald Trump is

looking to strike a deal with El Salvador to deport members of

the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to the Central American

country, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people

familiar with the discussions.



Tren de Aragua has been blamed for a surge in crime in the

Americas. In July last year, the U.S. Treasury Department

designated the group as a transnational criminal organization

for activities including human smuggling, gender-based violence,

money laundering and drug trafficking.



U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to visit Panama

and four other countries in Central America in the coming days

in his first overseas trip, State Department spokesperson Tammy

Bruce told reporters last week.



Bloomberg reported on Thursday that the deportations would

be a part of discussions between U.S. officials and El Salvador

during Rubio's trip. Any eventual deal would be announced by

Trump, the report said.



The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters'

request for comment.



Trump said earlier this month that his incoming

administration would remove members of the gang from the United

States.



The newly sworn-in President also wants to reintroduce "safe

third country" type asylum agreements similar to those in place

during his first term, Bloomberg reported, adding that these

would also be a focus of Rubio's meetings in El Salvador and in

Guatemala.



Trump, a Republican, took office on Jan. 20 vowing to crack

down on illegal immigration and humanitarian programs he says go

beyond the intent of U.S. law. The Trump administration has

subsequently stepped up deportations, sending migrants in

military aircraft to various Latin American countries.