Designating Cartels and Other Organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists

2025-01-29Executive Order 14157
Signed by: Donald Trump
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Headline: Designates international cartels and transnational gangs as terrorist groups

What it does: Federal agencies must recommend and prepare terrorist designations and ready removal measures within 14 days.

Real World Impact:
  • Authorizes formal terrorist designations that can block property and prohibit transactions.
  • Speeds preparations to remove designated individuals and ready facilities for expulsion.
  • Declares a national emergency under emergency economic powers to address cartel threats.
Topics: national security, organized crime, immigration enforcement, terrorism designation

Summary

This order directs the federal government to label certain international drug cartels and violent transnational gangs as terrorist organizations or specially designated global terrorists and declares a national emergency under U.S. emergency economic law to address these threats.

The Secretary of State must recommend which groups to designate within 14 days. Law enforcement and border officials must prepare to use removal authorities and ready facilities to speed deportations. The order cites groups such as Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as examples.

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