US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that his administration would impose a “secondary tariff” on Venezuela, citing concerns over crime and national security. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump accused the Venezuelan government of intentionally sending criminals, including members of the Tren de Aragua gang, into the United States.
The new tariff, set to take effect on April 2, 2025, will require any country purchasing oil or gas from Venezuela to pay a 25% duty on trade with the U.S. Trump described Venezuela as being “hostile” toward America and emphasized that the measure was necessary to protect national security.
“Venezuela has purposefully and deceitfully sent tens of thousands of high-level criminals, including murderers and violent gang members, into the U.S. Among these groups is Tren de Aragua, which has been designated as a ‘Foreign Terrorist Organization,’” Trump stated.
The former president also confirmed that U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and Border Patrol, had been notified about the new directive. He linked the decision to his broader immigration policies, emphasizing efforts to deport Venezuelan gang members back to their home country.
Earlier in March, Trump invoked the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act to fast-track the deportation of hundreds of alleged Tren de Aragua members to El Salvador. The move was widely debated, with critics questioning the legal framework behind mass deportations.
