In brief
In a bold move to combat organized crime, the U.S. administration plans to label multiple Latin American cartels as terrorist entities, broadening the scope of legal interventions against these groups.
The Trump administration is poised to classify over half a dozen Latin American criminal organizations as foreign terrorist entities, following an executive order issued by President Trump earlier this year. This decision, confirmed by five U.S. officials, underscores a severe stance against these cartels, which have been recognized as a national security threat that surpasses the challenges of traditional organized crime.Secretary of State Marco Rubio, fresh from his inaugural diplomatic mission to Latin America, is expected to announce the designations after consulting with other cabinet members. The law is likely to encompass eight specific groups, although the final list may be subject to change before it is made public.The executive order mandates the labeling of these drug cartels as terrorist organizations, allowing the U.S. government to utilize extensive economic sanctions. Among the target groups are well-known entities such as the Sinaloa cartel and the Jalisco New Generation cartel, as well as the Clan del Golfo from Colombia. Notably, the order also highlights Tren de Aragua from Venezuela and Mara Salvatrucha, a gang founded by Salvadoran immigrants in the U.S., albeit with less involvement in drug trafficking.As the administration seeks to eliminate these cartels entirely, the designation aims to curtail their financial and operational capabilities significantly. The move reflects a shift in strategy towards a more aggressive stance on transnational crime, with hopes to mitigate the multifaceted threats these criminal organizations pose to national security and public safety.
