America and Mexico Hand 'Death Blow' to Cartels in Historic Extraditions of 29 Cartel Bosses following TRUMP Executive Orders Labeling Cartels Foreign Terrorist Organizations
The "extradition" of 29 Cartel bosses by Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, with Trump’s Executive Orders, ultimately killing the bosses chances on their appeals and now exposing them to the death penalty—is the biggest death blow to the cartels while allowing America to be the ultimate Punishers. I don’t think you all understand how big of a deal this is.
On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating certain drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations as "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" (FTOs) and "Specially Designated Global Terrorists" (SDGTs). This move, one of his first actions upon returning to office, aims to escalate efforts against drug trafficking, human smuggling, and related violence impacting the United States, particularly along the southern border. Here's an explanation of what this executive order entails, its implications, and the context surrounding it
The executive order initiates a process to formally classify specific cartels—such as the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the Salvadoran gang MS-13, both explicitly named—as terrorist entities under two legal frameworks:
Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) Designation: Governed by Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, this requires evidence that a group is foreign, engages in terrorist activity (or has the intent and capability to do so), and threatens U.S. national security or citizens.
Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) Designation: Authorized under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Executive Order 13224 (originally issued post-9/11), this allows for broader economic sanctions and asset freezes.
The order directs the Secretary of State, in consultation with other Cabinet members (Treasury, Justice, Homeland Security, and National Intelligence), to recommend specific groups for designation within 14 days—by February 3, 2025. It also instructs the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to prepare for potential use of the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 law that could enable the detention and removal of individuals linked to designated groups during a declared national emergency.
Trump’s order frames cartels as a unique national security threat, beyond traditional organized crime, citing their "campaign of violence and terror" across the Western Hemisphere. It highlights their role in flooding the U.S. with drugs (e.g., fentanyl), violent criminals, and gangs, and accuses them of controlling "nearly all illegal traffic" across the U.S.-Mexico border, even functioning as "quasi-governmental entities" in parts of Mexico.
As of February 28, 2025, the State Department’s specific designations remain unclear, though recommendations were due by February 3. The administration’s follow-through—whether via military action, mass deportations, or sanctions—will shape the order’s impact.
Trump’s executive order reframes the cartel fight as a war on terror, promising aggressive action but raising complex questions about execution, efficacy, and fallout. Now that 29 of the top cartel bosses have been flown into America, it will be interesting to see how the future unfolds in the war against the cartels.