U.S. Designates Multiple International Criminal Organizations as Terrorist Groups

Additional law enforcement actions will be directed against groups like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua.

The U.S. Department of State has officially designated several international criminal organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). The groups include Tren de Aragua (TdA), Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Cártel de Sinaloa, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), Cártel del Noreste (CDN), La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM), Cártel de Golfo (CDG), and Cárteles Unidos (CU).

These designations impose sanctions that block the groups’ assets within U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit financial transactions with them. The move is intended to disrupt their operations and prevent access to resources.

According to the State Department, Tren de Aragua originated in Venezuela and has expanded across South America, engaging in activities such as kidnapping, extortion, bribery, and violence. The group has also been accused of targeting law enforcement and political figures.

MS-13, which began in Los Angeles and later spread to Central America, is identified as a key player in organized crime and violence across El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, and the U.S. The group has been linked to attacks involving explosives and drone technology, as well as attempts to manipulate the electoral process in El Salvador.

The Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG, both based in Mexico, are two of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations globally. The Sinaloa Cartel is noted for its involvement in fentanyl distribution, while CJNG has been accused of various criminal activities, including extortion, human smuggling, and armed attacks against law enforcement.

Other organizations named in the designation include CDN, LNFM, CDG, and CU, all of which have been implicated in drug trafficking, extortion, violent attacks, and other criminal enterprises. The U.S. government stated that these groups have engaged in acts that threaten stability and public safety in multiple countries.

The terrorist designation, made under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, will take effect upon publication in the Federal Register. The measure allows for additional law enforcement actions against the groups and their affiliates.