On Wednesday, the United States labeled Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel, and other drug cartels as global terrorist organizations, according to a notice in the Federal Register. This move coincides with the President's intensified immigration enforcement against suspected gang members in the U.S.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio's notice stated that these groups endanger U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economic interests. Following an executive order from President Trump on January 20, officials were tasked with assessing whether criminal cartels or transnational gangs should be classified as terrorist groups.
Earlier this month, Trump proposed significant tariffs on Mexico and Canada due to inadequate collaboration in curbing illegal immigration and illicit fentanyl trafficking. Reports from CNN indicated the CIA's use of drones for surveillance in Mexico, a covert operation not previously disclosed, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirming collaborative efforts with the U.S.
During Trump's 2017-2021 tenure, he debated but refrained from officially designating cartels as terrorist organizations amid concerns about straining relations with Mexico and impeding drug trafficking efforts. The prospect of asylum seekers associating their migration with terrorism to gain U.S. asylum status was also a worry.
Some analysts cautioned that terrorism designations might expose asylum seekers who paid cartels for smuggling to potential prosecution or U.S. entry restrictions. Designating a group as a foreign terrorist organization aims to disrupt their operations through sanctions like asset freezes and travel restrictions, as indicated in the Wednesday announcement.
The official terrorism designation notice is set for publication in the Federal Register on Thursday. A State Department spokesperson refrained from commenting, citing ongoing notifications to relevant stakeholders before the designations take effect. Trump also instructed his administration to prepare for potential measures enabling the deportation of alleged gang members without court hearings following his inauguration, although such steps have not been implemented yet.