BOISE – Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador has joined a 25-state coalition backing a federal initiative to deport members of the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang designated as a foreign terrorist organization.

The coalition filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in support of President Donald Trump’s efforts to use executive authority to remove foreign nationals affiliated with the gang. The brief argues that the president is acting within the bounds of constitutional and statutory authority under Article II and the Alien Enemies Act.

According to the filing, Tren de Aragua has been linked to violent crimes in the U.S., including murder, human trafficking, and cartel-associated operations. The states involved assert that federal action is necessary to address what they describe as a growing public safety and national security threat.

Attorney General Labrador stated that Idaho supports the administration’s actions to remove individuals affiliated with the gang, citing concerns about community safety and national security.

The brief also contends that interference by the judiciary would hinder the executive branch’s responsibility to protect the country. The filing urges the court to reject an injunction that would prevent federal authorities from carrying out deportations related to the case.

Other states joining the brief include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.