The State Department has announced the designation of eight organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). This move aligns with one of President Trump's initial promises upon taking office.
President Trump, in Executive Order 14157, stated that cartels and other transnational organizations "threaten the safety of the American people, the security of the United States, and the stability of the international order in the Western Hemisphere."
The organizations designated include Tren de Aragua, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Cártel de Sinaloa, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, Cártel del Noreste (formerly Los Zetas), La Nueva Familia Michoacana, Cártel de Golfo (Gulf Cartel), and Cárteles Unidos.
The aim of these designations is to protect both national and hemispheric security by halting campaigns of violence perpetrated by these groups. These actions grant law enforcement additional tools to combat their activities.
According to a statement from the State Department, "Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against terrorism and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities." The department emphasized that today's actions reflect the Trump Administration's commitment to national security and dismantling dangerous organizations.
Further details can be found in the Department of State’s Fact Sheet.