In brief
In a bold move against organized crime, the Trump administration plans to designate over half a dozen Latin American criminal organizations as foreign terrorist entities, following a recent executive order by President Trump.
The State Department is preparing to impose terrorist designations on eight specific criminal groups, representing a significant escalation in the U.S. approach to combating drug cartels and associated violence. Senior officials revealed the plan on February 12, indicating it stems from an executive order signed by Trump on January 20, emphasizing that these cartels pose a national-security threat surpassing traditional organized crime challenges. Under this initiative, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has two weeks to finalize the names of the organizations in consultation with other cabinet members. Once designated as foreign terrorist organizations or specially designated global terrorists, these groups would face severe economic sanctions, extending to individuals and entities linked to them.Among the cartels mentioned in the executive order are Tren de Aragua and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), alongside major Mexican cartels such as the Sinaloa cartel and Jalisco New Generation cartel. This marks a significant shift in U.S. policy towards drug cartels and indicates a commitment to tackling the pervasive threat they represent to regional and national security. The move is expected to take a public form soon, although the final list of designated organizations may still change before its announcement. This heightened focus on Latin American cartels reflects ongoing concerns regarding their influence and operations beyond their home regions.
