On February 19, 2025, the U.S. State Department took a bold step in the fight against international crime, classifying several major drug cartels and gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).
This unprecedented move expands the legal and operational toolkit available to the Trump administration, enabling tougher sanctions, asset seizures, and potential military action. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alongside Attorney General Pam Bondi and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, spearheaded the designations after confirming a “sufficient factual basis” under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The targeted groups include some of the most infamous criminal enterprises operating in Mexico and Central America: Tren de Aragua, Mara Salvatrucha, Cartel de Sinaloa, Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, Carteles Unidos, Cartel del Noreste, Cartel del Golfo, and La Nueva Familia Michoacana. These organizations, long known for their roles in drug trafficking, extortion, and violence, now face heightened scrutiny and consequences. The FTO label, governed by the State Department, brings criminal penalties for involvement, while the SDGT status, managed by the Treasury under Executive Order 13224, zeroes in on financial networks and backers, freezing assets and disrupting funding.
This policy shift coincides with revelations that the CIA is already conducting surveillance missions over Mexico using MQ-9 Reaper drones. These unmanned aircraft, currently unarmed, are gathering intelligence on cartel activities as part of President Trump’s broader strategy to dismantle these groups. The CIA, under Director John Ratcliffe, emphasized its commitment, stating, “Countering drug cartels in Mexico and regionally is a priority for CIA as a part of the Trump Administration’s broader efforts to end the grave threat from narco-trafficking.” The agency’s expertise, honed in counterterrorism operations across the Middle East and Africa, could soon extend to lethal strikes if the drones are armed—a possibility now more feasible with the terrorist designations.
Mexican officials have offered a muted response to the U.S. actions. Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla downplayed the drone operations, asserting they “do not violate national airspace.” President Claudia Sheinbaum, while not opposing the flights, stressed the importance of information sharing, saying, “The important thing here, I think, in the declaration, which is what we have always proposed, is that they share information with the Government of Mexico.” This diplomatic tightrope reflects Mexico’s limited leverage against its northern neighbor’s superior resources and resolve.
The designations and drone deployments mark a significant escalation in Trump’s war on cartels, one of his administration’s top priorities alongside trade disputes and countering China. When asked shortly after his January 20, 2025, inauguration about deploying U.S. special forces to Mexico, Trump replied with a grin, “Could happen. Stranger things have happened.” The comment underscores his willingness to explore aggressive options, a stance that aligns with the new terrorist classifications and the potential for targeted killings of cartel leaders or destruction of their facilities.
The implications of this strategy are far-reaching. By treating cartels as terrorist entities rather than mere criminal organizations, the U.S. gains flexibility to deploy military-grade tactics typically reserved for groups like ISIS or al-Qaeda. The MQ-9 drones, though currently limited to surveillance, could shift to combat roles, mirroring their use in overseas conflicts. This approach reflects a view that the cartels’ impact—flooding American streets with drugs and fueling border violence—justifies an all-out offensive, even if it strains relations with Mexico.
