A top adviser to the director of national intelligence directed a senior analyst to redo an assessment regarding the relationship between Venezuela’s government and a gang, following intelligence findings that contradicted the White House’s rationale for deporting migrants. This request raised concerns among intelligence analysts about potential pressure to alter the findings.
President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act on March 15 to deport Venezuelan migrants, claiming a connection between Venezuela’s government and the gang Tren de Aragua. However, an intelligence assessment released on February 26 contradicted this assertion, indicating that the gang was not under the Venezuelan government’s control, a conclusion the FBI partially contested.
In response to the report, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced a criminal leak investigation, asserting that the intelligence community's findings were “inaccurate” and that Trump’s claims were “supported by fact, law, and common sense.” Subsequently, on March 20, Joe Kent, acting chief of staff for the director of national intelligence, requested a new assessment from senior analyst Michael Collins, prompting debate over the appropriateness of the request.
While some officials claimed Kent’s direction was appropriate, others viewed it as an attempt to create a narrative aligning with Trump’s immigration policy. Despite this, the National Intelligence Council reaffirmed the original findings on April 7, concluding that the Venezuelan government likely does not direct Tren de Aragua’s actions in the U.S.
The request for a revised assessment was politically charged, stemming from a White House inquiry. It remains unclear who specifically in the White House initiated the request. Stephen Miller, Trump’s homeland security adviser, has been instrumental in shaping aggressive immigration policies, including the use of the Alien Enemies Act.
Following Kent's request for a revised analysis, Collins agreed to produce an updated assessment. Some intelligence officials interpreted Kent's intervention as an effort to align the findings with the administration's arguments. Collins tried to navigate the political implications while maintaining the integrity of the council’s work.
Olivia C. Coleman, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, defended Kent’s actions as standard practice, while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted that Trump’s policies had improved national safety.
After the deportations commenced, legal challenges emerged, resulting in courts blocking further actions under the Alien Enemies Act. As the council drafted the second analysis, it emphasized the intelligence community's consensus on the lack of direct ties between the Venezuelan government and the gang, countering the FBI's dissent.
Publicly, the Trump administration responded to the findings by criticizing Collins and the National Intelligence Council, with some officials alleging that Collins became a scapegoat. Kent's reaction to the final memo was unexpectedly positive, leading to its declassification and subsequent public release, which contradicted Trump’s statements.
Despite Kent's claims of not politicizing the assessment, questions remain regarding the motivations behind the intervention and Collins's subsequent removal. Kent's history of embracing politically convenient narratives has raised further skepticism regarding his actions within the intelligence community.