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2.0

EO 14157: "Designating Cartels and Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists"

  1. Original Date Announced

    January 20, 2025

    President Trump issues Executive Order (EO) 14157 on "Designating Cartels and Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists." The EO discusses threats posed by international cartels and other transnational organizations, such as Tren de Aragua (TdA) and La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), and directs:

    1. the Secretary of State to work with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence, to make a recommendation within 14 days of the order regarding whether to designate any cartel or other transnational organization described in this order as a Foreign Terrorist Organization consistent with 8 U.S.C. § 1189 and/or a Specially Designated Global Terrorist consistent with 50 U.S.C. § 1702 and Executive Order 13224; and
    2. the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, within 14 days of this order, to make operational preparations regarding the implementation of any decision President Trump might make to invoke the Alien Enemies Act, 50 U.S.C. § 21 et seq., in relation to any qualifying invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the U.S. by a qualifying actor, and to prepare facilities to expedite the removal of those who may be designated under this order.

    You are viewing the general entry for this Executive Order. For discrete policies within the EO and subsequent actions related to them, see the "Associated and Derivative Policies" linked on this page.

    Trump 2.0 [ID # 1401]

    2025.01.20 EO 14157: Designating Cartels and Other Organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists

  2. Effective Date

    January 20, 2025

  3. Subsequent Trump and Court Action(s)

    • February 20, 2025

      2025.02.20 DOS Public Notice 12672: Foreign Terrorist Organization Designations

      Secretary of State Marco Rubio found "sufficient factual basis" to designate Tren de Aragua, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel, United Cartels, Los Zetas, Gulf Cartel, and La Nueva Familia Michoacana as Foreign Terrorist Organizations pursuant to INA § 219. The designation was published and went into effect on February 20, 2025.

      View Document
    • February 20, 2025

      2025.02.20 DOS Public Notice 12671: Specially Designated Global Terrorist Designations

      Secretary of State Marco Rubio found that "in accordance with section 1(a)(ii)(A) of Executive Order 13224," Tren de Aragua, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel, United Cartels, Los Zetas, Gulf Cartel, and La Nueva Familia Michoacana "are foreign persons that have committed or have attempted to commit, pose a significant risk of committing, or have participated in training to commit acts of terrorism that threaten the security of United States nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States." The designation was published and went into effect on February 20, 2025.

      View Document
    • March 6, 2025

      2025.03.06 DOJ - U.S. Attorneys' Offices Staffing Priorities

      Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memorandum on “U.S. Attorneys' Offices Staffing Priorities,” with guidance to ensure U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are appropriately staffed to address the administration’s immigration and crime priorities. The memo identifies Border Districts that are authorized to hire AUSAs despite the federal hiring freeze, including all Districts in AZ, NM, TX, and FL as well as the Southern District of CA, Western and Northern Districts of NY, and the District of VT.

      The memo states this policy is critical to allow for investigations and prosecutions of “illegal trafficking of dangerous drugs and human beings, and targeting the Cartels and TCOs designated as FTOs and SDGTs” in EO 14157. This includes racketeering charges, seeking the death penalty, and bringing terrorism and sanctions charges against "illegal aliens who provide material support to Cartels and TCOs" designated as FTOs and SDGTs. Such charges can be brought by prosecutors in Border Districts without prior approval at Main Justice.

      View Document
    • March 15, 2025

      2025.03.15 EO: "Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of The United States by Tren De Aragua"

      President Trump issued a Proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act, against Venezuela's Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang.

      **You are viewing the entry for EO 14157. For a more specific entry on President Trump's proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act, please see here.**

      View Document

Current Status

None

Original Trump Policy Status

Status: Final/Actual
Trump Administration Action: Presidential Orders
Subject Matter: Border Interior
Agencies Affected: DHS DOJ DOS

Associated or Derivative Policies

Commentary

  • "The Dangerous Sweep of Trump's Plan to Designate Cartels as Terrorist Organizations," Just Security

    Rachel Levinson-Waldman, Counsel to the Brennan Center's Liberty and National Security Program, wrote in Just Security that designating cartels as terrorist organizations is unnecessary to address the threat and counterproductive.

    Go to article

Documents

Trump-Era Policy Documents

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