The United States has appointed eight criminal and drug trafficking groups as “global terrorist organizations” amid the growing rhetoric of President Donald Trump.
In a notice of the Federal Registry presented on Wednesday, Secretary of State Frame National Security, foreign policy, foreign policy, or economy of the United States ”.
Some experts say that Trump could be used by Trump to justify expansive and political presidential powers previously seen as outside the limits, such as military attacks in the Mexican territory or stripped migrants of their right to due process.
The eight groups appointed on Wednesday's notice are Tren de Aragua, Mara Salvatrucha (also known as MS-13), Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco Nueva Generación poster, United posters, Northeastern poster, Gulf poster and the new Michoacan family .
While these groups commit acts of violence and exploitation, experts say that posters are motivated by commercial interests instead of the political or ideological motifs typically attributed to terrorist groups.
“The United States already takes many actions against these groups. They examine them, sanction them and process their members in court. Therefore, this decision will not change much in terms of the tools they have at their disposal, ”said Stephanie Brewer, director of the Mexico program at the Washington office in Latin America (WOLA), a state -based research group in states Joined.
“I think it is worrying that this comes in the context of the rhetoric of the White House that combines migration with crime, drugs and, now, terrorism.”
Immigration offensive
Many immigrants passing through Mexico and other Latin American countries are forced to pay rates and “taxes” to criminal groups, which extort migrants and smugglers equally.
Will Freeman, a member of Latin America studies in the Foreign Affairs Council, says the administration could use a fact to argue that immigrants are providing material and financial support to terrorist organizations.
“I could accuse anyone, a migrant who pays a smuggler to a Mexican business that is forced to pay a 'protection rate', to offer material or financial support to a terrorist organization,” he said.
He also points out that one of the most powerful criminal groups in the Americas, the first capital command of Brazil, does not appear on the list.
“I wonder if the transmission line here is that many of the named groups are involved in immigration routes,” he said.
The White House has frequently used irregular migration representations as an “invasion” to promote a hard line for immigration.
The Trump administration has previously threatened to use the Alien Enemies Law of 1798, a law that allows presidents immediately deporting citizens of an “enemy nation” in times of war, to carry out mass deportations in the United States.
Earlier this month, Trump also said that the imposition of pronounced tariff Yy narcotics of all kinds ”that come to the United States.
Strikes in Mexico
Terrorist designations have also renewed concerns that the United States could carry out military operations in Mexican territory.
“Trump has previously stated that the Mexican government has an 'intolerable alliance' with the posters. Does this mean that the United States now believes that the Mexican government is collaborating with terrorism? Brewer asked.
After the announcement of the order, Elon Musk, the richest man in the world and a Trump ally who has embraced his nativist vision, he said in a publication on social networks that the order meant that the groups were now “eligible for strikes of drones “.
But Brewer and Freeman say that, although fighting criminal groups that cause violence and struggle in the Americas is an objective worthwhile, doing so requires more than a difficult conversation and a power of military fire.
“To pursue these groups, you have to pursue their finances, their arms supplies, their corrupt associations with government authorities,” Freeman said. “And if you are choosing fights with governments throughout Latin America, that seems to be seen against those efforts.”
