The Trump administration has officially designated the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, the violent MS-13 organization and six major Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
The new classification, announced in a Federal Register notice posted to social media on Wednesday, prohibits Americans from providing "material support or resources" to these groups and paves the way for stricter law enforcement actions, including the deportation of gang members and affiliates.
On X, DOGE's Elon Musk floated a possible implication of the designation. "That means they're eligible for drone strikes," he wrote.
That means they're eligible for drone strikes https://t.co/aWxKkeAinG
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 19, 2025
Among the cartels named are the Sinaloa Cartel—formerly led by Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán—Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), Carteles Unidos, Cartel del Noreste, Cartel del Golfo and La Nueva Familia Michoacana.
President Trump has vowed to crack down on violent gangs and drug organizations, making their removal a key priority of his administration, in line with broader efforts to execute mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
Tren de Aragua, which has established a foothold in over a dozen U.S. states, was specifically called out by Trump last year as he promised to "rescue" American communities affected by cartel violence. Laken Riley, the Georgia nursing student and namesake of the Laken Riley Act, was murdered by a member of Tren de Aragua.
The foreign terrorist designation strengthens Trump's ability to deport foreign nationals tied to these groups, with the administration considering the use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to bypass court proceedings for gang-related deportations.
Additionally, Trump has ramped up pressure on Mexico and Canada to curb illegal migration, threatening tariffs as leverage to enforce stricter border controls.
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