At the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday, President Donald Trump vowed to take aggressive action against cartel members operating within the United States, labeling them as “savage monsters.” Trump emphasized his administration’s commitment to pursuing and expelling members of notorious gangs such as MS-13 and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, stating, “Their members and leaders in the United States will be hunted down.”
Trump’s remarks come amid growing concerns over the influence of criminal gangs from south of the U.S. border, which have expanded their operations in the country in recent years. The rise of Tren de Aragua has coincided with a significant surge in illegal immigration during the Biden administration, raising alarms about the safety and security implications for American communities.
In a related development, the Department of State recently designated eight international criminal organizations, including MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, as foreign terrorist organizations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that this designation aims to bolster law enforcement’s ability to combat these groups, which pose a threat to both the United States and broader regional stability. “The intent of designating these cartels and transnational organizations as terrorists is to protect our nation, the American people, and our hemisphere,” Rubio stated.
This designation fulfills a longstanding goal of Trump, who has sought to label drug cartels as terrorist organizations since his first term. In addition to MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, the State Department’s list includes the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Cartel of the Northeast, La Nueva Familia Michoacana, Gulf Cartel, and Cárteles Unidos.
The push for these designations follows an executive order issued by Trump in January, which highlighted the threat posed by cartel activities to national security. The order asserted that these groups threaten the safety of American citizens and the stability of the Western Hemisphere, necessitating a robust response.
As the administration moves forward with these initiatives, it remains to be seen how effective the measures will be in curbing the influence of these gangs and ensuring the safety of communities across the United States.