ORLANDO, Fla. — The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol on Thursday made what state and federal authorities said was the first arrest in the United States under the Alien Enemies Act, the Department of Homeland Securities announced Friday.
Franklin Jose Jimenez-Bracho, who is a suspected member of the Tren de Aragua gang of Venezuela, was apprehended after being steered into a group of FHP troopers and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Homeland Security Task Force Orlando authorities, according to the FDLE.
Authorities said many members of Tren de Aragua are suspected of human trafficking and smuggling. Jimenez-Bracho's arrest is part of an ongoing investigation, FDLE said.
“Our goal is to eradicate TdA from U.S. soil. We will not tolerate their illegal presence or the threat that they pose to the American public,” Department of Immigration and Enforcement Acting Director Todd Lyons said Friday at a news conference.
The arrest comes amid an ongoing legal battle between a federal judge and the White House over President Donald Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport migrants. Federal judge James E. Boasberg has temporarily blocked the administration from using the law to quickly deport migrants, particularly those he said are affiliated with the gang.
The law requires a president to declare the United States is at war, giving him extraordinary powers to detain or remove foreigners who otherwise would have protections under immigration or criminal laws. It was last used to justify the detention of Japanese-American civilians during World War II. It was also invoked during the War of 1812 and World War I.
Dave Kerner, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Florida Highway Patrol; the FHP, Lyons; and the Orange County Sheriff's Office held a news conference in Orange County Friday.
They did not give any details about Thursday's arrest and said the U.S. Department of Immigration and Enforcement would release all other information on this case. Lyons said only that Tren de Aragua is a terrorist organization and that more than 68 Tren de Aragua members had been apprehended over the past 48 hours in a nationwide effort. He commended the FDLE and FHP for their help with fighting terrorism so dangerous individuals can be removed from the country. Kerner said those law enforcement organizations have worked to apprehend Tren de Aragua members and those of other terrorist organizations, and FHP Colonel Gary Howze said troopers had made an arrest this week in Central Florida.