**WASHINGTON (AP)** — The Trump administration has officially classified **eight criminal organizations from Latin America** as “foreign terrorist organizations,” intensifying efforts against cartels operating within the United States and those who support them. This designation aligns with a **January 20 executive order issued by President Donald Trump** and will be made public in the Federal Register on Thursday, as indicated in a notice released on Wednesday.

The identified groups include Venezuela’s **Tren de Aragua**, El Salvador’s **MS-13**, and six prominent cartels based in Mexico. This designation is part of Trump’s broader initiative, which emphasizes the importance of securing the **U.S.-Mexico border**. Throughout his presidency, Trump has prioritized border security, pledging to conduct mass deportations, deploy **active-duty troops** to the border, and negotiate agreements with other nations to accommodate more migrants.

The **“foreign terrorist organization”** label is noteworthy as it is typically applied to groups like **al-Qaida** or **the Islamic State**, known for using violence with political motives, rather than to criminal organizations driven by profit, such as the Latin American cartels.

The administration contends that the global networks and activities of these groups—ranging from drug trafficking to migrant smuggling and violent territorial expansions—justify this classification.

However, critics argue that this designation is excessively broad and punitive, potentially harming diplomatic relations and disrupting trade with Latin American countries. Businesses, financial institutions, and consumers may fear potential U.S. legal action if they engage in transactions connected to these cartels, whether knowingly or inadvertently.

These cartels have a significant impact on Mexico’s economy, involving not only drug trafficking and human smuggling but also competing for control over the lucrative avocado industry. Aid organizations have raised concerns that past U.S. declarations of certain groups as foreign terrorist organizations have jeopardized food imports into affected countries, as shipping companies may fear U.S. legal repercussions for inadvertently supporting these groups.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed reservations on Wednesday before the official announcements, stating, “If this decree involves extraterritorial actions in Mexico, we will not accept it.” However, she acknowledged the necessity for collaborative investigations, adding, “If this decree leads to increased investigations in the U.S. concerning money laundering and criminal organizations that engage in drug sales, it’s a positive development. What we cannot accept is a violation of our sovereignty.”

Trump has frequently highlighted the threat posed by two of the designated groups—**MS-13** and **Tren de Aragua**—during his political engagements. According to U.S. officials, **Tren de Aragua** is believed to pose a risk in several U.S. cities, and Trump has utilized the gang’s notoriety to illustrate the dangers associated with migration.

In his first presidential term, Trump similarly identified the violent gang **MS-13** as a concern related to immigration. This gang originated in Los Angeles during the 1980s, formed largely by refugees from El Salvador’s civil conflict and other immigrant groups, eventually including many U.S. citizens. Known for its extreme violence, **MS-13** is infamous for street level drug dealing.

The six designated Mexican cartels include the **Sinaloa Cartel**, recognized as Mexico’s oldest criminal organization, involved in drug, weapon, and human trafficking. In recent years, Sinaloa has profited immensely from the production of **fentanyl**, a substance linked to tens of thousands of overdose fatalities in the U.S. The Sinaloa cartel sources precursor chemicals from China, manufactures the drug, and smuggles it across the border.

The other focus of U.S. designations includes the **Jalisco New Generation**, **Gulf**, **Northeast**, **La Nueva Familia Michoacana**, and **United Cartels**.

___

Verza reported from Mexico City.