Breaking News Crime Latin America USA

 US Designates Latin American Groups as “Global Terrorist Organizations”

 US Designates Latin American Groups as “Global Terrorist Organizations”
Source: Mexican Federal Attorney General's Office via AP
  • PublishedFebruary 21, 2025

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