The Republican administration is effectively designating 8 Latin American crime organisations as “foreign terrorist organisations,” increasing its pressure on cartels working in the U.S. and on anyone helping them.
Specifically, the order, implementing a January 20 executive order by President Donald Trump, designates Tren de Aragua in Venezuela, MS-13 in El Salvador and six outfits operating in Mexico.
Trump’s administration has made securing the U.S.-Mexico border among his key priorities. It vowed to implement mass deportations, sending active-duty soldisers to the border and reaching agreements with some nations to take in more migrants.
The “foreign terrorist organisation” designation is uncommon because it applies a terrorist designation normally assigned to outfits like al-Qaida or the Islamic State group that employ violence for political objectives. The Trump administration claims that the international connections and functions of the groups — including migrant smuggling, drug trafficking and acts of violence to expand their territory — justify their designation.
On the other hand, critics of the action call it an overly broad and harsh one that could hurt ties and paralyse trade with Latin America. Banks, Businesses and buyers could be subject to U.S. prosecution if they willingly or unknowingly have any transactions that relate to the world of the cartels.
These cartels abound in Mexico’s economy, engaging not only in drug trafficking and migrant trafficking but also competing for ownership of the multibillion-dollar avocado business. Aid groups express some past U.S. designations that cause concern as foreign terrorist organisations have endangered overall food imports into nations, for instance, by making shipping groups fearful that U.S. prosecutors will accuse them of directly or indirectly helping the targeted groups.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that before the designations, “if that decree has to do with extraterritorial actions (in Mexico), those we do not accept.” But she expressed Mexico agreed on the need to extend joint investigations.
“If they make this decree to investigate even more in the United States the money laundering and the criminal groups that operate in the United States, that carry out those drug sales, it’s
very good,” Sheinbaum stated. “What we do not accept is the violation of our sovereignty.”
Over the years, Trump has singled out two of them — MS-13 and Tren de Aragua — in political speeches and other formations.
According to U.S. authorities, Tren de Aragua threatens in various U.S. cities. Trump and his supporters have seized on the gang’s sight and made it the face of the alleged threat from migrants. In his first term, Trump similarly identified the violent street gang MS-13 as a threat of immigration. It developed in Los Angeles in the 1980s among refugees from El Salvador’s civil war and other immigrants, expanding to include many U.S. residents. The six Mexico-based criminal groups identified as terrorist groups include the Sinaloa cartel, Mexico’s elder criminal group.
Sinaloa’s biggest business in recent years has been the production of fentanyl. It is accused of tens of thousands of drug deaths each year in the U.S. Sinaloa obtains the precursor chemicals from China.
