South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson is at the forefront of a coalition consisting of 26 attorneys general, defending actions taken by the Trump administration against the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. This coalition seeks to overturn a district court's Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) that impedes President Trump's measures against this group, which has been newly designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
"Labeling Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization underscores just how serious this is," stated Attorney General Wilson. "Yet, instead of supporting President Trump’s rightful authority to protect our nation, the district court is trying to stand in his way. Let’s be clear—Tren de Aragua isn’t just a gang, it’s an arm of the Venezuelan government. This isn’t just crime spilling over our border—it’s an invasion, and ignoring it puts American lives at risk."
The brief argues for staying the district court's order on two grounds: it endangers public safety across the United States and fails to acknowledge adequately the President's constitutional and statutory authority concerning national security.
Attorney General Wilson emphasizes that the decision by the district court weakens the President's authority under both constitutional and statutory provisions. He asserts that President Trump acted within his rights under Article II of the Constitution, which grants him significant power to address foreign threats such as transnational criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua.
The legal brief was co-led by South Carolina and Virginia, with participation from attorneys general in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.
For further details on their arguments and positions regarding this case and related matters concerning national security powers vested in the presidency under U.S. law and constitutionality principles relevant to foreign threats posed by entities such as Tren de Aragua you can read more in their full brief available online.