President Trump moved to label drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations this week. This shift allows the government to use much stronger criminal charges against cartel members. Across Latin America and the Caribbean, 21 related groups have now received terrorist designations from the State Department.
These groups include MS-13 and the Sinaloa Cartel. During the 2024 election cycle, Trump pledged this crackdown while officials noted transnational criminal networks assaulting apartment complexes in Colorado. Securing our nation's borders now benefits from much stronger criminal charges made available by this designation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Wednesday that some nations have already adopted similar labels. Previously, the State Department restricted its foreign terrorist list to ideological and political groups. But for decades, the United States has called out drug-related criminal cells for using violence and corruption.
Trump's explicit use of the label allows federal agencies to treat the threat with harsher methods. The Department of Justice has charged alleged associates of Tren de Aragua with material support for terrorism. Defendants face charges for allegedly providing resources that enable harmful activities.
The new rules change how prosecutors build their cases against gang leaders. This approach differs from past methods where prosecutors had to focus on single crimes. The new strategy targets the broader network rather than just one act.
Records show the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG, engaged in terrorist activities. Terrorism charges targeting this cartel led to two convictions over the summer. Individuals who smuggle multi-kilogram loads of cocaine into the United States are also being targeted by The Department of Justice. A State Department spokesperson told the Washington Examiner that the list might grow. "The Department is fully committed to taking appropriate action against foreign groups engaging in terrorist activity," the spokesperson said.
The State Department designated 21 violent cartels and gangs in response to a Day 1 executive order.
