Former President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday to classify drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. The decision aims to address criminal groups like Mexican cartels, Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, and El Salvador’s Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13).
The order directs Cabinet secretaries to recommend specific groups for the designation within 14 days. Trump tied the move to broader measures, including a southern border emergency and a planned 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada.
“The cartels have spread violence and terror across the Western Hemisphere,” the order stated, as cited by the Associated Press. “They destabilize important nations and flood the U.S. with drugs, criminals, and gangs.”
Mixed Reactions to the Plan
Critics expressed concern over the potential implications, including how the designation could affect asylum seekers and U.S.-Mexico relations.
Experts warned the policy might serve as a pretext for military action against cartels, a proposal rejected by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Vanda Felbab-Brown, a Brookings Institution organized crime expert, cautioned that the plan could block most undocumented migrants from seeking asylum.
Cartels, which now dominate the migrant smuggling trade, often collect fees from individuals crossing their territories. This financial interaction could disqualify migrants under U.S. laws targeting terrorism.
Mike Vigil, a former DEA foreign operations chief, argued the designation would likely have minimal impact on cartel operations.
“This is nothing new. It’s political theater,” Vigil said, explaining that existing counter-narcotics tools already provide similar authority. He noted that deploying U.S. troops to Mexico would violate Mexican sovereignty and amount to an act of war.
Escalating Violence in Mexico
The order comes during rising violence in northern Mexico.
A power struggle within the Sinaloa cartel has sparked brutal conflicts. Bodies are being left in public areas, and kidnappings continue, even from hospitals.
Cartels have adopted more advanced tactics, including using drones, IEDs, and armored vehicles. They have also expanded into industries like migrant trafficking and agriculture, increasing violence in communities.
Hope for Victims’ Families
Some families of cartel victims see the move as a chance for justice.
Adrián LeBarón, whose daughter was killed in a 2019 massacre, supports the terrorist designation. He hopes it will draw attention to violence in Mexico and pressure authorities to act.
“Calling cartels terrorists brings justice not just to us but to every family suffering from violence,” LeBarón said.
