The Trump administration has made an unprecedented move to classify eight Latin American organized crime groups as foreign terrorist organizations under U.S. law.
According to AP News, the designation, typically reserved for political extremist groups like ISIS and al-Qaida, will now apply to major drug cartels and gangs operating across Latin America and the United States. The formal classification will be published in the Federal Register on Thursday.
The designation targets prominent criminal organizations including Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Gulf Cartel, and Northeast Cartel. It also includes La Nueva Familia Michoacana and United Cartels from Mexico, Venezuela's Tren de Aragua, and El Salvador's Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13).
Mexico's most powerful cartels face increased pressure
The Sinaloa Cartel, Mexico's oldest criminal organization dating back to the 1970s, maintains firm control over drug trafficking routes along the western U.S.-Mexico border. Their operations span continents, utilizing boats, planes, and cross-border tunnels to move drugs.
The group has recently focused on producing fentanyl, importing precursor chemicals from China, and smuggling the finished product into the United States.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel has emerged as one of Mexico's most aggressive criminal organizations. The group has launched direct attacks against Mexican authorities using explosive-laden drones and sophisticated weapons. Under the leadership of Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, the cartel has established a vast distribution network for cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl across all 50 U.S. states.
The Gulf Cartel and Northeast Cartel control the eastern portion of the U.S.-Mexico border, facilitating the movement of drugs, migrants, weapons, and money. These groups represent the most direct trafficking route from Central and South America into the United States.
Venezuelan and Salvadoran gangs expand reach across Americas
The Tren de Aragua gang, which originated in a Venezuelan prison, has capitalized on the mass exodus of Venezuelan citizens to expand its operations from Chile to the United States. The group engages in migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and extreme violence including decapitations and live burials.
MS-13, which began in Los Angeles among Salvadoran refugees in the 1980s, has spread throughout El Salvador and the United States. The gang's influence in El Salvador has diminished following President Nayib Bukele's aggressive crackdown, resulting in over 80,000 arrests of suspected gang members.
La Nueva Familia Michoacana and United Cartels control Mexico's lucrative avocado trade through extortion and threats. These groups have repeatedly threatened U.S. agricultural inspectors working in Michoacan state, where annual avocado exports reach $2.8 billion.
Strategic implications of terrorist designation unfold
The Trump administration's decision to designate these eight Latin American criminal organizations as terrorist groups marks a significant shift in U.S. policy toward organized crime. The classification allows for increased pressure on these groups and their supporters through enhanced law enforcement measures and sanctions.
The designation comes as part of broader efforts to combat drug trafficking, human smuggling, and violence along the U.S.-Mexico border.
These criminal organizations will now face the same legal consequences and restrictions typically applied to political extremist groups, potentially impacting their operations and financial networks across the Americas.
