The U.S. State Department is taking a bold step by moving to designate Tren de Aragua, Sinaloa Cartel, and six other Latin American drug cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations, as revealed in an unpublished notice in the Federal Register posted Wednesday.
Threat to National Interests
The notice, issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and scheduled for official publication Thursday, highlights the threat these groups pose to the country's defense, international relations, and economic interests.
Transnational Drug Trade Impact
Many of these cartels, including Tren de Aragua and Sinaloa, have been pivotal in the transnational drug trade, flooding certain areas with illicit fentanyl, cocaine, and other drugs. Some groups, like the Cartel del Golfo, are also involved in migrant smuggling, an issue the Trump administration has been addressing.
Implications of Designation
Designating these entities as foreign terrorist organizations enables the U.S. to impose financial sanctions on them and their affiliates, collaborate with allies to combat cartels, and declare their members as "inadmissible" to the country, barring them from immigration benefits.
It remains uncertain how far-reaching these sanctions will be and who they will target, as the State Department has not provided further details.
Trump Administration's Stance
This move aligns with President Donald Trump's efforts to crack down on cartels. In a recent executive order, Trump established a mechanism to label cartels and similar groups as global terrorists if they pose a national security threat beyond traditional organized crime.
Such actions could have implications for countries like El Salvador, which the U.S. collaborates with on countermigration but has also faced accusations of ties to gangs, potentially leading to terror charges and strained cooperation.
Continued Focus on Cartels
The Trump administration's renewed focus on combating cartels began in his first term, with initial plans delayed at the request of then-Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who sought joint efforts with the U.S. against drug gangs.
Trump's commitment to securing the U.S.-Mexico border and eradicating cartels, which profit from illegal immigration and drug trafficking, remains a priority. Senator Marco Rubio emphasized the cartels' influence and their incursion into the United States during a recent podcast.
Trade Policy Implications
Recent threats by Trump to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada, major U.S. trade partners, citing concerns about the international drug trade, reflect the administration's strategy. Despite differing views on the motives behind these tariffs, they were temporarily suspended following commitments by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to enhance border and crime enforcement.