National Security Adviser Mike Waltz defended over the weekend the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport members of the Venezuelan illegal alien terrorist group Tren de Aragua.

Waltz made the remarks during a Sunday CBS News interview with Margaret Brennan on “Face The Nation” when asked about approximately 250 members of Tren de Aragua who were deported several days ago to El Salvador.

“President Trump has determined that this group is acting as a terrorist organization,” he said. “It is terrorizing our communities through attacks, torture, rape and the most awful of situations for those communities, number one.”

“And, number two, the Alien Sedition Act fully applies because we have also determined that this group is acting as a proxy of the Maduro regime,” he continued. “TDA is acting as a proxy of the Maduro regime. This is how the Alien [Enemies] Act applies. And we cannot have district judges interfering with the commander in chief’s actions to take care of in the way he deems necessary a terrorist organization.”

Waltz said that Venezuelan socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro was “deliberately emptying his prisons in a proxy manner to influence and attack the United States.”

WATCH:

White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz defends the Trump administration’s use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Tren de Aragua gang members, telling @margbrennan, “this group is acting as a proxy of the Maduro regime.”

When asked if the administration has… pic.twitter.com/TQW503BcnF

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) March 23, 2025