The government of the United States, led by President Donald Trump, is preparing to designate several criminal groups and Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Among the cartels that could receive this designation are the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the Northeast Cartel, La Familia Michoacana, and the United Cartels.
This measure, which is expected to be made official on February 19, has generated controversy and discussions about whether the cartels that traffic migrants into the United States should also be included on this list. President Trump has emphasized the threat posed by Mexican cartels to U.S. national security, referring to them as responsible for the deaths of thousands of people in the U.S.
The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, has expressed the Mexican government's stance in defense of its sovereignty regarding this possible designation. Sheinbaum has also pointed to American weapon manufacturers and dealers as "accomplices" of terrorism, arguing that the majority of weapons used by Mexican criminal groups come from the U.S.
The news about the designation of these cartels as terrorists has raised concerns in Mexico, where various reports indicate that more than 80% of the national territory is under the influence of criminal organizations. The consulting firm AC Consultores revealed that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel is the criminal group with the greatest dominance in the country, operating in 28 Mexican states.
In addition to the Mexican cartels, the U.S. Department of State is considering adding the Gulf Clan of Colombia and the Tren de Aragua of Venezuela to the list of terrorist groups, due to their illicit activities such as drug trafficking and human smuggling. These designations could be part of the Trump administration's strategy to combat transnational organized crime in the region.
