‘No Different Than ISIS’: NSA Mike Waltz Explains Basis For Declaring Tren de Aragua A Terrorist Organization

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz appeared on Fox News Monday to discuss the basis for declaring Tren De Aragua (TdA) as terrorists.

President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to the Venezuelan gang TdA on Saturday and designated its members as “Alien Enemies” of the U.S., subjecting them to immediate arrest and deportation. During an appearance on “The Ingraham Angle,” Waltz explained what he said were the reasons behind the U.S. government’s designating TdA as a foreign terrorist organization.

“Our sovereignty and the safety of our citizens is a core national security issue,” Waltz told Laura Ingraham. “I could tell you, the average American, the people out there just trying to keep their families safe.”

Waltz recounted feedback from communities and local law enforcement who said they were grateful to Trump for deporting these dangerous individuals.

“When you talk about hundreds of members, tattooed, violent gang members, being deported, they’re saying ‘Thank you, President Trump.’ Local law enforcement is saying ‘Thank you, President Trump.’ Our sheriffs are saying ‘Thank you,’” Waltz said. “At the end of the day, these gang members are an arm of a foreign terrorist organization. They are no different than ISIS in the way that they rape, torture, kill, maim their victims. They’re no different.”

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Waltz also commended El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele for his proactive measures in addressing gang violence, which  included producing deterrent videos aimed at discouraging criminal behavior.

“They’re lucky, frankly, that they got a deportation flight. Thank you, by the way, President Bukele of El Salvador, for taking this problem on. God bless him for making that video,” Waltz said.