In a significant move against organized crime, the U.S. Department of State has officially designated six Mexican drug cartels, along with the Salvadoran gang Mara Salvatrucha and the Venezuelan Tren De Aragua, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). This announcement, made on February 19, 2025, by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, follows earlier reports and aims to address the escalating violence and criminal activities associated with these groups.
The designation, detailed in Public Notice 12672 filed in the Federal Register, identifies the following groups as terrorist organizations: Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Tren De Aragua, Cartel Del Sinaloa (which includes the Mexican Federation and Guadalajara Cartel), Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), Carteles Unidos, Cartel Del Noreste (CDN or Northeast Cartel), and Cartel Del Golfo (CDG or Gulf Cartel). Notably, the list does not include Colombia’s Clan Del Golfo, contrary to a report by The New York Times, which incorrectly stated that the Colombian cartel was also designated.
This designation comes amid growing pressure from the Trump administration on the Mexican government to take more decisive action against drug cartels, which have been linked to mass violence, including killings, kidnappings, extortion, and torture. The cartels have also been implicated in the use of explosives, leading to numerous civilian casualties and instilling fear across Mexico.
The involvement of corrupt officials in Mexico has allowed these criminal organizations to operate with relative impunity, raising concerns about the effectiveness of law enforcement and military responses to cartel violence. The U.S. government’s classification of these groups as terrorist organizations is intended to bolster efforts to combat their operations and reduce the violence that has plagued the region.
As the situation develops, the implications of this designation will likely influence U.S.-Mexico relations and the broader fight against organized crime in Latin America.