U.S. Designates Mexican Cartels as Terrorist Organizations

The U.S. government has classified two additional Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. These are the Juárez Cartel, which operates near the Texas border, and Los Viagras, a criminal group from Michoacán.

This designation was published in the Federal Register, the government’s official journal. It adds to the list of six other Mexican criminal groups labeled by the U.S. as terrorist organizations. These include the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

The Trump administration began labeling Latin American cartels as terrorist organizations in February 2025. This decision enables U.S. authorities to exercise stronger measures against these groups. U.S. military operations, targeting suspected drug trafficking vessels in Latin American waters, have resulted in over 200 deaths since September last year.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited that both the Juárez Cartel and Los Viagras have either perpetrated terrorist acts or have a significant risk of acts threatening U.S. nationals and the country’s security, foreign policy, or economy.

The added pressure aligns with increased scrutiny on Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration. This follows the indictment of ten officials from Sinaloa for alleged cartel ties and controversies regarding U.S. operations in Mexico.

Impact on the Texas Border

The Juárez Cartel is an established drug trafficking organization in Mexico. It has long controlled a crucial crossing point at Ciudad Juárez, opposite El Paso, Texas. The cartel has maintained control despite many arrests among its leaders, its infrastructure supporting extensive smuggling into the U.S.

The Juárez Cartel was implicated in the brutal killings of nine American women and children in 2019. Relatives filed a federal lawsuit against the cartel, highlighting its violent impact.

Targeting Los Viagras in Michoacán

Los Viagras is localized in Michoacán, a region already associated with two other terrorist-designated groups: Cárteles Unidos and La Nueva Familia Michoacana.

This cartel sprang from a farmers’ uprising in 2013-2014, which replaced old groups with new criminal organizations. Los Viagras, led by Nicolás Sierra Santana, known as “El Gordo,” has consolidated control through extortion and drug production.

The U.S. State Department has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Santana’s capture. He faces a formal indictment for drug trafficking in the District of Columbia.

In an unusual maneuver, Los Viagras set up internet antennas, labeled “narco-antennas,” and charged locals for Wi-Fi access under threat of violence. This illustrates the group’s extensive control and influence in Michoacán.