U.S. Designates Two Mexican Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations

Why it matters locally: While Wyoming does not share a border with Mexico, these federal designations could impact national-level efforts to combat drug trafficking, which can have downstream effects on communities across the country, including those in Wyoming.

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WASHINGTON — U.S. authorities designated two more Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations in February 2025. This action broadens the government's capacity to take enforcement measures against these groups. It also expands the government's ability to act against individuals who provide assistance to them. This move extends previous designations of Latin American cartels under the terrorist label. The U.S. government implemented these measures to allow for more aggressive action against the organizations.