Overview

• The ACLU has disclosed a points-based ICE checklist used to classify Venezuelan immigrants as members of the Tren de Aragua (TDA) gang, leading to expedited deportations.
• The checklist allows ICE officers to assign points for tattoos, clothing, social media posts, and associations, with eight points or more resulting in gang classification.
• Critics argue that some identifiers in the checklist, such as tattoos and attire, are culturally common and not necessarily indicative of gang affiliation.
• Hundreds of alleged TDA members have been deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison, known for its harsh conditions, despite a court order to halt deportations.
• The administration is appealing to the Supreme Court as lawsuits challenge the legality of using the Alien Enemies Act to bypass standard immigration procedures.