President Trump has designated 21 criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations. This move includes the Sinaloa Cartel and MS-13 gang. The State Department made these changes in response to a Day 1 executive order. Court records show this legal shift led to bombings of drug boats and military captures. The government now treats these groups like Islamic terrorists under federal law.
In the effort to secure our nation’s borders, this designation enables much stronger criminal charges. Officials say the new status allows for harsher penalties against those who help these gangs. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that other nations are joining the effort. He noted that “some have already done it,” by labeling similar groups as terrorists.
The Department of Justice has charged many cartel members with material support for terrorism. Defendants face these new charges for providing resources to the criminal groups. The State Department previously limited its list to political and ideological groups. Now, it targets violent cells using intimidation to destabilize societies. The list grew to include 21 violent cartels across the Caribbean and Latin America.
On September 19, under the direction of #SOUTHCOM, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere executed a lethal, kinetic strike on a go-fast vessel operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean. Confirmed intelligence revealed the vessel’s active involvement in… pic.twitter.com/LPNJ5ec3GU
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) September 19, 2026
A State Department spokesperson told the Washington Examiner about the plan. The official declared that the government is fully committed to taking appropriate action against foreign groups. The goal is to stop these groups from getting the resources they need. This strategy aims to eliminate the threat posed by these specific groups. The administration is also urging other countries to adopt similar labels.
Terrorism charges targeting the Jalisco New Generation Cartel led to two convictions. These convictions happened over the summer after the new rules took effect. The Justice Department says the old rules made prosecution too narrow. A former official clarified that any prosecution has to be more narrowly focused on a person’s involvement in a specific crime. The new law changes this by allowing broader charges for general involvement.
These actions are now treated as acts of terrorism rather than simple drug crimes. The military captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro in January as part of this push.
The government says the basis for these actions is clear. The new regulations establish the basis for indictments of those materially supporting the FTO in any way. This includes instituting sanctions on any foreign entity involved in the support. The Department of Justice will continue to file charges against associates of these groups. The State Department has not confirmed if the list will grow further.
Trump promised this crackdown during the 2024 election cycle. Officials reported that these networks were attacking apartment complexes in Colorado. They were also flooding deadly narcotics into the country. Loose immigration policies allowed them to traffic slaves at the border. The new terrorist labels give federal agencies tools to fight back with force.
