President-elect Donald Trump's team is considering designating Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations, a plan that was previously discussed but did not materialize during his first term in office. The idea was initially put on hold in late 2019 at the request of then-Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
The proposal to designate drug cartels as terrorist groups faced opposition from both career officials and political appointees within Trump's Justice Department. Despite the initial setback, Republicans have continued to advocate for the designation, with some introducing legislation to label specific cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Mexican cartels play a significant role in the illicit drug trade, human smuggling, and generate billions of dollars in revenue. The potential designation as foreign terrorist organizations could lead to stricter financial penalties and legal actions against those involved, but experts warn that it may strain relations between the US and Mexico.
Under the Biden administration, efforts have been made to combat transnational criminal organizations through initiatives like Operation Sentinel and Joint Task Force Alpha, focusing on disrupting human smuggling networks in Latin America.
While some argue that existing tools are sufficient to address criminal organizations, Republican lawmakers like House Speaker Mike Johnson believe that designating cartels as terrorist organizations would enable more aggressive actions against them.
Former Attorney General William Barr has supported the idea of targeting cartels, emphasizing the need for stronger measures to combat the rise in drug-related deaths in the US. Barr proposed using the US military to confront cartels in Mexico, drawing parallels to US actions against ISIS in Syria.
However, the complex relationship with Mexico poses challenges to such aggressive measures. Past incidents, such as the arrest of a former Mexican Defense Secretary by the US, strained relations and led to a temporary suspension of cooperation on various issues.
As discussions on designating Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations continue, the potential implications on US-Mexico relations and the effectiveness of such a designation remain subjects of debate.
