President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to classify Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations upon taking office on January 20 as he anticipates his plans to address drug trafficking and opioid overdoses in the U.S.
Speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix, Arizona, in which he also suggested taking back the Panama Canal unless the Latin American country reduces tariffs, Trump stated his administration would utilize federal law enforcement agencies, including ICE, Border Patrol, the DEA, and the intelligence community, to dismantle cartel operations in the United States.
"I will immediately designate the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations." - President Trump
— American.357 (@ASimplePatriot) December 22, 2024
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Trump's remarks included a promise to expel all foreign gang members, calling for aggressive measures to address drug trafficking and opioid overdoses, particularly from fentanyl. Trump also emphasized a public campaign highlighting the harmful effects of drug use, a concept reminiscent of anti-drug initiatives from previous decades:
"We're going to advertise how bad drugs are for you. They ruin your look, they ruin your face, they ruin your skin, they ruin your teeth"
Hard-line Republicans have long supported designating cartels like the Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generación as terrorist organizations, with some advocating military action against these groups, as El País points out. Such proposals, however, face significant legal and diplomatic challenges, including potential violations of international law and the risk of damaging relations with Mexico.
"While this designation may strain diplomatic relations with Mexico, it could compel stronger action against cartels," explained retired Supervisory Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Brian Townsend to The Latin Times, adding that:
"Andrés Manuel López Obrador's (AMLO) 'hugs not bullets' policy emboldened cartels and severely diminished U.S.-Mexico law enforcement cooperation. His legislation restricted DEA operations and required sensitive intelligence sharing with Mexico's Foreign Relations Department, despite rampant corruption within Mexican institutions. With Claudia Sheinbaum, the question remains whether she'll continue this failed approach or restore crucial law enforcement cooperation"
Mexico's government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, has consistently opposed foreign interventions on its soil, asserting its sovereignty. An while Trump acknowledged Sheinbaum's leadership, calling her "a lovely woman", he stressed the need for Mexico to take greater action to prevent drug trafficking across the border.
"This designation could pressure Mexico to strengthen enforcement and cooperation," concluded Townsend. "The priority is restoring operational capabilities, allowing DEA and other agencies to conduct effective, intelligence-driven operations in Mexico. This path offers a chance to re-establish collaboration and address cartel power structures."
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