US declares Tren de Aragua, other cartels are global terrorist organizations

The United States on Wednesday designated Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa cartel and other drug cartels as global terrorist organizations, according to a Federal Register notice.

The U.S. State Department notice said the groups pose a risk to U.S. national security, foreign policy and economic interests.

President Donald Trump, a Republican, issued an executive order after taking office on January 20 that called on officials to evaluate whether any criminal cartels or transnational gangs should be designated at terror groups. During Trump’s 2017-2021 presidency, he considered such designations but ultimately shelved the plans.

Read more: Reuters