The Trump Administration’s Plan to Designate Latin American Criminal Groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations
An Overview of the Trump Administration’s Plan
The Trump administration is set to designate more than half a dozen criminal organizations with roots in Latin America as foreign terrorist organizations. This significant move, to be implemented by the State Department, follows an executive order signed by President Trump on January 20, which called for a crackdown on major cartels. The designation is expected to target eight groups, although the list could change before a public announcement. The officials who provided this information spoke on the condition of anonymity, as the action has not yet been made public. The executive order described these cartels as a national-security threat beyond traditional organized crime and emphasized the need for their "total elimination."
The Scope of the Designation and Its Implications
The State Department plans to designate the Clan del Golfo, based in Colombia, and five Mexican organizations: the Sinaloa cartel, Jalisco New Generation cartel, the Northeast cartel, the Michoacán family, and the United cartels. Additionally, the order specifically named Tren de Aragua, a group with roots in Venezuela, and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), a gang founded by Salvadoran immigrants in the United States. The designations will allow the U.S. government to impose broad economic sanctions on these groups and on individuals or entities linked to them. This action is part of a broader effort to disrupt the operations of these criminal organizations, which are involved in drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, and other illicit activities.
The Role of the Gulf Clan and Its Involvement in Migrant Trafficking
The Clan del Golfo, or Gulf Clan, has been a key player in the global drug trade for over two decades. The group has worked closely with Mexican cartels, supplying cocaine for smuggling into the United States. However, after the price of cocaine dropped in 2017, the Gulf Clan shifted its focus to migrant trafficking to compensate for financial losses. The group controls the Darién Gap, a critical land bridge connecting South and North America, and has become a major player in the lucrative business of smuggling migrants. Many migrants, often traveling from as far as China, Sudan, and Venezuela, pay thousands of dollars to Gulf Clan operatives for safe passage through the Darién Gap. This involvement in migrant trafficking is a key reason for the group’s inclusion on the designation list.
The Delay in Finalizing the Designation List
The designation list was initially intended to be finalized last week but may have been delayed due to the State Department expanding the list beyond the groups outlined in the executive order. There were extensive discussions about whether to include organized crime groups involved in migrant trafficking, which contributed to the delay. The Mexican cartels included on the list work closely with the Gulf Clan to smuggle migrants across Latin America into the United States. The involvement of these groups in both drug trafficking and migrant smuggling underscores the complex challenges posed by their activities.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Role and Recent Diplomatic Efforts
Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently completed his first trip to Latin America, visiting five countries and discussing migration and security issues. He emphasized the need to dismantle Mexican drug cartels, highlighting the fact that many parts of Mexico are controlled by these organizations rather than the government. Rubio also called attention to the role of these cartels in facilitating illegal migration and the smuggling of deadly drugs like fentanyl, which he described as a national security threat. In a call with his Argentine counterpart, Rubio discussed shared security priorities, including combating transnational organizations.
The Implications of the Designation for Mexico and the Region
Mexican officials have been engaged in prolonged negotiations with the Trump administration to avoid the terrorist designation for the cartels and organized crime groups operating in Mexico. Of the eight groups designated, five are Mexican, including the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels, which are the largest and most influential players in the fentanyl market. The designation list also includes smaller cartels like the Northeast cartel and organized criminal groups like the Michoacán Family and United cartels, which act as local enforcers for larger cartels. The net profits from the international operations of Mexico’s cartels are estimated to reach up to $20 billion annually, nearly 2% of Mexico’s gross domestic product. The designation is part of a broader strategy to disrupt these criminal organizations and address the national security threat they pose.
