Attorney General Murrill joined 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.

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.

“These violent terrorists have no place in our State or country. Joe Biden let them in, President Trump has every right to kick them out. My fellow attorneys general and I are standing firm in our push to deport these violent gang members," said Attorney General Murrill.

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.

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.

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

Read the brief here.