U.S. designates cartel on Texas border as foreign terrorist organization
Summary
The U.S. government has officially named the Juárez Cartel and Los Viagras cartel as foreign terrorist organizations. This designation allows U.S. authorities to increase actions against these Mexican criminal groups, especially at the Texas border and in the western state of Michoacán.Key Facts
- The Juárez Cartel operates near the Texas border, mainly in Ciudad Juárez across from El Paso.
- Los Viagras is a criminal cartel based in Michoacán, a western state in Mexico.
- Both cartels were added to the list of foreign terrorist organizations published in the Federal Register.
- This designation allows the U.S. to take stronger actions against these groups and those who support them.
- President Trump started labeling Latin American cartels as terrorist groups in February 2025.
- The Juárez Cartel has been linked to a deadly attack in 2019 that killed nine American women and children from a Mormon community.
- Nicolás Sierra Santana, leader of Los Viagras, is wanted by the U.S. with a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.
- The move increases pressure on Mexico’s government, including on President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, amid indictments of officials suspected of cartel ties.
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