In a decisive move, the U.S. Department of State has officially classified several notorious Mexican cartels and violent foreign gangs, including Tren de Aragua and MS-13, as Global Terrorist Organizations.
This designation, announced on Wednesday, aligns with the Trump administration's broader initiative to curb illegal immigration across the nation.
As reported by The Post Millennial, the declaration follows an executive order from President Donald Trump, identifying these criminal entities as Global Terrorist Organizations. The list includes the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, the El Salvadoran MS-13 gang, and several Mexican cartels such as Cartel de Sinaloa, Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, Carteles Unidos, Cartel del Noreste, Cartel del Golfo, and La Nueva Familia Michoacana.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the grave threat these groups pose to U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economic interests, stating they "have committed or have attempted to commit, pose a significant risk of committing, or have participated in training to commit acts of terrorism that threaten the security of United States nationals or the national security."
The formal publication of this terrorism designation is set for Thursday in the Federal Register. The classification as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) aims to disrupt the financial networks of these groups by enforcing sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, as noted by Reuters. However, the full scope of the designation's impact remains to be seen.
President Trump's executive order, signed on January 20, underscores the administration's commitment to addressing the threat posed by these cartels and gangs. The president highlighted the cartels' "campaign of violence and terror throughout the Western Hemisphere" and their role in inundating the United States with "deadly drugs, violent criminals, and vicious gangs." He further asserted that the cartels maintain control over nearly all illegal traffic across the southern border through "a campaign of assassination, terror, rape, and brute force."
The president's executive order also warns of the cartels' activities, which jeopardize the safety of American citizens, the security of the United States, and the stability of the international order in the Western Hemisphere. Their proximity and incursions into U.S. territory present an "unacceptable national security risk," according to Trump.
Reports indicate that these cartels have a notorious history of perpetrating extreme violence against migrants, including children, and extorting them. They are believed to authorize the majority of unlawful entries into the United States via the southern border. In addition to the cartels, President Trump has identified the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangs as posing similar threats, describing their "campaigns of violence and terror in the United States and internationally" as exceptionally brutal.
In recent weeks, federal immigration authorities under the Trump administration have intensified efforts to apprehend and deport members of these terrorist gangs, reflecting a robust stance against the threats they pose to national security.
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