Trump authorizes CIA covert action in Venezuela, warns of new immigration crackdowns
President Donald Trump is escalating his fight against immigration and the drug trade — both at home and abroad.
(NBC)- President Donald Trump is escalating his fight against immigration and the drug trade — both at home and abroad.
Speaking Wednesday, the president made a rare public admission that he authorized the CIA to carry out covert action in Venezuela, a move that immediately drew sharp criticism from international leaders.
“I authorized for two reasons, really,” Trump said. “Number one, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America. And the other thing are drugs.”
Overnight, Venezuela’s government condemned the remarks, calling the move “unprecedented” and a “grave violation of international law.”
When asked if the CIA has authority to target Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump deflected. “That’s a ridiculous question for me to be given,” he said. “Not really a ridiculous question, but wouldn’t it be a ridiculous question for me to answer?”
The revelation follows weeks of U.S. military strikes on boats off Venezuela’s coast accused of smuggling narcotics. Some lawmakers — including Republicans — are voicing concern about the growing secrecy surrounding the operations.
“Is it too much to ask to know the names of those we kill before we kill them, to know what evidence exists of their guilt?” said Sen. Rand Paul (R–Kentucky).
Domestically, Trump is also touting a renewed crackdown on immigration and crime, warning that additional U.S. cities could soon see surges of federal law enforcement. One of those could be San Francisco, though California Governor Gavin Newsom notes that violent crime in the city is down 22 percent compared to last year.
Meanwhile, protests against existing federal operations continue in other cities. In Chicago, newly released surveillance video shows a chaotic ICE arrest of an undocumented immigrant after a vehicle and foot chase.
Homeland Security officials say the confrontation drew a hostile crowd, prompting officers to deploy tear gas and arrest two teenagers — including a 15-year-old U.S. citizen accused of assault for throwing eggs at agents.
The teen’s attorney issued a statement saying, “A 15-year-old American citizen was effectively ‘disappeared’ for five hours in Chicago. This is not law enforcement.”
As tensions mount both overseas and at home, the administration’s aggressive tactics on immigration and security are once again testing legal and political boundaries — and prompting fierce debate over how far presidential power should go.
