Executive Order 14157: Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorists

This order aims to declare certain international drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations as "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" or "Specially Designated Global Terrorists." The goal is to address the significant national security threat these organizations pose, not just through drug trafficking, but through violence, terrorism, and corruption in the Western Hemisphere. The order highlights the cartels’ control over illegal activities at the U.S. southern border and their influence in Mexico, where they reportedly operate like quasi-governmental bodies. It includes organizations like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, which are said to engage in violent actions both in the U.S. and abroad. By declaring a national emergency, the administration aims to eliminate these organizations and their power, taking action through the Department of State, Treasury, Homeland Security, and others.

This policy emphasizes total elimination of these groups and their influence on the U.S., putting national security as the priority. The order calls for designating these groups as terror organizations, enabling broader measures to disrupt their activities, including the possibility of invoking the Alien Enemies Act to remove individuals connected to these groups.

Takeaway

While it’s undeniable that these organizations pose threats, the language used in this order risks escalating tensions and could lead to overreach. Declaring cartels and gangs as "terrorist organizations" could create legal and political ramifications that might lead to broader crackdowns on immigrant communities, who are already disproportionately impacted by over-policing.

Instead of a heavy-handed, militarized approach that might harm innocent people, we should focus on the root causes of this violence—poverty, inequality, and lack of education—especially in countries affected by cartel violence. Rather than prioritizing sweeping designations and national emergencies, the focus should be on diplomatic and multilateral solutions that address the social issues that allow these cartels to thrive in the first place.

Further, labeling cartels as terrorists doesn't necessarily make us safer—it could give the government more unchecked power, potentially infringing on individual rights and due process, particularly for immigrants and vulnerable communities. Instead of fueling a security state, we should advocate for policies that respect human rights while tackling the systemic causes of organized crime.