Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently teamed up with local law enforcement in Charleston, South Carolina, to arrest members of the Tren De Aragua gang for reportedly selling fentanyl. President Donald Trump recently designated the gang as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), making it a priority to bring down the organization.
According to reports, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers joined forces with Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) agents and other law enforcement agencies to arrest numerous Tren de Aragua gang members in the Charleston area. One of the operations reportedly took place in Goose Creek, South Carolina. Local Police Chief LJ Roscoe claimed he was not provided advance notice of the ensuing operation that occurred in the town.
“It was reported to me, after the fact, that ICE was at the location serving a warrant. The Goose Creek Police Department was not given information in advance that ICE was going to be at the address. However, we were notified once they needed help,” Roscoe told a local news outlet. “They resolved the issue prior to our arrival, so no one from Goose Creek Police Department was involved or on scene.”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) took to X noting that she tagged along during the ICE raid on Friday morning. “We did a ride-along with @ICEgov this morning, I think I missed my calling—getting the bad guys off the streets. President Trump’s Executive Orders have paved the way and put America first,” she wrote, sharing a picture of her in protective armor.
In another post, Mace said, “We’re not just talking about deporting illegal aliens — we’re out here seeing it in action for ourselves – firsthand. South Carolina needs bold leadership to support President Trump’s America First agenda deporting the bad guys and putting our people first. It helps to have sheriffs who work with ICE too.” She followed up, “The criminal illegal alien ICE apprehended this morning was staying in my hometown of Goose Creek. They’re everywhere. They’re dangerous. And they need to be deported.”
As part of President Trump agenda to “make America safe again,” the White House put out a statement on January 20, describing the administration’s priorities in achieving the goal. Addressing the violent gang, the statement read, “President Trump will begin the process of designating cartels, including the dangerous Tren de Aragua, as foreign terrorist organizations and use the Alien Enemies Act to remove them.”
The statement added, “President Trump will take bold action to secure our border and protect American communities.” Additionally, it said, “This includes ending Biden’s catch-and-release policies, reinstating Remain in Mexico, building the wall, ending asylum for illegal border crossers, cracking down on criminal sanctuaries, and enhancing vetting and screening of aliens.”
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The Trump administration further noted, “The Armed Forces, including the National Guard, will engage in border security, which is national security, and will be deployed to the border to assist existing law enforcement personnel.” The White House added, “President Trump’s deportation operation will address the record border crossings of criminal aliens under the prior administration.”
Watch DHS Secretary Kristi Noem detail the capture of a Tren de Aragua ringleader here: