Trump designates drug cartels as terrorist organizations, invokes Alien Enemies Act
By isabelle // 2025-01-23
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  • President Trump designates Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and invokes the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to combat border crises.
  • The strategy aims to dismantle cartels, freeze assets, and prosecute those supporting criminal networks.
  • Trump’s plan targets cartel-driven violence, drug trafficking, and illegal migration, calling it a "campaign of terror."
  • Mexico’s President Sheinbaum emphasizes sovereignty but supports joint efforts to combat cartels.
  • Critics warn the move could strain U.S.-Mexico relations, while supporters hail it as a necessary response to cartel violence.
In a sweeping move to combat the escalating crisis at the southern border, President Donald Trump has announced plans to designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and invoke the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) of 1798. This unprecedented strategy aims to dismantle criminal networks flooding the U.S. with drugs, violence, and illegal migrants. Speaking at his inauguration on Monday, Trump declared, “Under the orders I sign today, we will also be designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.” The move signals a hardline approach to securing the border and protecting American communities from the devastating impact of cartel-driven crime. The Alien Enemies Act, enacted in 1798, grants the president authority to detain, relocate, or expel non-citizens from nations deemed hostile to the U.S. While historically used during wartime, Trump’s invocation of the AEA marks a novel application to address the cartel-driven “invasion” of illegal migrants and criminal activity. This is something he has hinted about in the past. At a rally in Coachella, California, during his 2024 campaign, Trump said, “I will invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target and dismantle every migrant criminal network operating on American soil.” The AEA has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court multiple times, lending legal weight to Trump’s strategy. By designating cartels as terrorist organizations, the administration can freeze their assets, prosecute those providing “material support,” and bar members from entering the U.S. This dual approach combines legal and military tools to confront what Trump calls “a campaign of violence and terror throughout the Western Hemisphere.”

A strong response to a growing threat

The cartels’ influence extends far beyond drug trafficking. They have infiltrated migrant smuggling operations, extorted businesses, and terrorized communities on both sides of the border. Recent violence in northern Mexico, including the use of bomb-dropping drones and improvised explosive devices, underscores the sophistication and brutality of these organizations. Trump’s plan has drawn support from Republicans and law enforcement experts who argue that the cartels’ actions amount to acts of war. “The Cartels have engaged in a campaign of violence and terror throughout the Western Hemisphere that has not only destabilized countries with significant importance for our national interests but also flooded the United States with deadly drugs, violent criminals, and vicious gangs,” Trump’s executive order states. The Republican Party’s 2024 platform also endorsed using the AEA to “remove all known or suspected gang members, drug dealers, or cartel members from the United States.”

Mexico’s response

While Trump’s actions have been praised domestically, they have sparked concerns in Mexico. President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized that Mexico would defend its sovereignty while seeking cooperation with the U.S. “We all want to fight the drug cartels,” Sheinbaum said. “The U.S. in their territory, us in our territory.” Critics argue that the terrorist designation could complicate bilateral relations and raise questions about potential military intervention. However, Trump’s administration has made it clear that its focus is on dismantling cartels, not infringing on Mexico’s sovereignty. President Trump’s decision to designate drug cartels as terrorist organizations and invoke the Alien Enemies Act represents a bold and necessary response to a crisis that has plagued the U.S. for decades. By leveraging historic legal tools and modern enforcement strategies, Trump is taking decisive action to protect American communities, secure the border, and hold criminal networks accountable. As the administration moves forward with this plan, it sends a clear message: the era of unchecked cartel violence and illegal migration is coming to an end. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com News.Antiwar.com APNews.com
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