The Trump administration says the group should be treated as an invading force. Critics say it’s a pretext for the administration’s anti-immigrant narrative.

CARACAS, Venezuela — Debates over President Trump’s hard-line migration policies are focused on the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, to some a ruthless transnational criminal organization and to others the pretext for an overhyped anti-migrant narrative.

Tren de Aragua, commonly known as TdA, is the Venezuelan gang targeted by President Trump in recent mass deportations. On Saturday, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, the first time it’s been used since World War II.