US designates 2 new Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said both groups pose a serious risk to U.S. security, and Treasury added them to its sanctions list.
- On Thursday, The Federal Register published the designation of the Juarez Cartel and Los Viagras as foreign terrorist organizations, citing threats to United States national security and economic interests.
- President Donald Trump began extending the terrorist label to Latin American cartels in February 2025 to allow United States authorities to take more aggressive action against the groups.
- The Juarez Cartel operates near Ciudad and Texas, controlling a key border crossing point, while Los Viagras emerged from Michoacan following an armed uprising in 2013 and 2014.
- Indicted in the District of Columbia for drug conspiracy, Los Viagras leader Nicolás Sierra Santana faces a $5 million reward offer from The State Department for his capture.
- According to Mexican analyst David Saucedo, the designation enables decisive action along the border, intensifying pressure on Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum over United States operations and cartel-linked official indictments.
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Marco Rubio Designates Juárez Cartel and Los Viagras as Foreign Terrorist Organizations
The Trump administration expanded its use of terrorism authorities against Mexican criminal organizations on Thursday, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio announcing that the Juárez Cartel and Los Viagras have been designated as both Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).
The U.S. State Department appointed yesterday the Juárez cartel, which operates on the Texas border, and Los Viagras, a criminal group in the state of Michoacán, “foreign terrorist organizations (FTO) and specially designated global terrorists (SDGT).”
U.S. designates 2 more Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations
President Donald Trump began to extend the terrorist label to Latin American cartels in February 2025 to allow U.S. authorities to take more aggressive action against them or against anyone who the U.S. sees as aiding the groups.
Find out what are the new Mexican cartels declared terrorist organizations by the U.S. and how the group that stalks the Texas border operates.
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