US Designates Latin American Groups as “Global Terrorist Organizations”

In a move aimed at bolstering national security, the United States government has designated eight Latin American criminal and drug-trafficking groups as “global terrorist organizations,” Al Jazeera reports.

The announcement, made in a Federal Register notice, highlights the administration’s commitment to addressing threats to US interests.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that these groups pose a risk of committing acts of terrorism that could threaten the security of US nationals, national security, foreign policy, or the economy. The designation allows the US government to utilize a range of tools to counter these organizations and disrupt their activities.

The groups named in the notice include:

• Tren de Aragua
• Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)
• Cartel de Sinaloa
• Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion
• Carteles Unidos
• Cartel de Noreste
• Cartel del Golfo
• La Nueva Familia Michoacana