US Designates Latin American Cartels, Criminal Groups as Foreign Terrorists
The State Department has designated eight Latin America-based criminal groups as Specially Designated Global Terrorists and Foreign Terrorist Organizations, the agency said in a pair of Federal Register notices released this week. The designations, which took effect Feb. 6, target Tren de Aragua, Mara Salvatrucha (also known as MS-13), Cartel de Sinaloa, Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, Carteles Unidos, Cartel del Noreste, Cartel del Golfo, and La Nueva Familia Michoacana.
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Many of the groups or their members already are subject to sanctions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, but these latest designations subject them to more measures, including additional financial restrictions. The designations come after President Donald Trump called on the State Department to step up sanctions against drug cartels and other criminal organizations (see 2501210023).
Rep. Maria Salazar, R-Fla., who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, welcomed the State Department's actions. “FINALLY!" she tweeted. "Time to treat Tren de Aragua and all these other thugs like what they are … TERRORISTS!”