President Donald Trump fulfilled his promise to designate Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations. According to security expert Raymundo Riva Palacio, this designation is considered a "political weapon" of his administration. The United States made the designation on February 20, including six Mexican drug trafficking cartels, such as the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the Northeast Cartel, the Gulf Cartel, the New Michoacan Family, and the United Cartels, as well as the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13).
In a forum organized by El Financiero, Riva Palacio explained that Trump’s designation is more of a political message than an effective measure, as it is related to the economy. The U.S. Treasury Department's "Kingpin Act" is used to cut financial resources from drug trafficking organizations.
According to Riva Palacio, this list of terrorist organizations has been politically used in the past and has not necessarily led to concrete actions. Mexico, which has historically opposed this measure, fears it could open the door to a possible U.S. intervention in its territory. President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that she does not fear a U.S. invasion, supported by the population.
Despite Mexican opposition, it has been reported that CIA spy drones have been monitoring organized crime on Mexican territory in search of fentanyl labs. The inclusion of these groups on the terrorist organizations list could affect migrants entering the United States, as these organizations are also involved in human trafficking at the border.
