Trump FTO Designation 2025 — Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations

Executive Order 14157 (January 2025) and FTO Designation of February 20, 2025

By Executive Order 14157 of January 20, 2025, US President Donald Trump directed the State Department to designate cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) under 8 U.S.C. § 1189 and as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under Executive Order 13224. Effective February 20, 2025, the State Department then designated six Mexican cartels. Those affected are: Cártel de Sinaloa, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), Cártel del Noreste (the Los Zetas successor), La Nueva Familia Michoacana, Cártel del Golfo, and Cárteles Unidos. In addition, Venezuela's Tren de Aragua and El Salvador's MS-13.

Legal consequences in the USA

The FTO designation allows for tougher sanctions (asset freezes, travel bans), criminal prosecution for material support under 18 U.S.C. § 2339A/B (up to 15 or 20 years' imprisonment per count, and up to life imprisonment where death results), and facilitated immigration-law detention and removal. Authorization for military operations, by contrast, does not follow from the FTO designation; it is governed by the general constitutional and war-powers rules (including the War Powers Resolution).

Mexican reaction

President Claudia Sheinbaum (in office since October 1, 2024) rejected the FTO designation as an “unacceptable interference,” while at the same time maintaining the framework of cooperation with the USA. Constitutional amendments to restrict foreign security operations were introduced in Congress.

Relevance for German extradition proceedings

The FTO designation also has an indirect effect in German extradition law: defendants with cartel ties who are to be extradited to the USA may, on account of the designation, be subject to more serious charges (material support) and an expanded sentencing range. In Mexico-related extradition proceedings, questions arise as to compliance with the rule of specialty (Section 11 IRG): it must be ensured that extradition to Mexico does not lead to immediate onward extradition to the USA, in whose prosecution FTO-related offenses would then be added.

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