MEXICO CITY (AP) — President Donald Trump signed an executive order to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, potentially leading to increased militarization along the U.S.-Mexico border. This directive, articulated on Monday, highlights the threats posed by Mexican drug cartels and other Latin groups, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and El Salvador’s Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). Trump’s order claims these groups “threaten the safety of the American people” and destabilize the Western Hemisphere, calling for Cabinet secretaries to recommend which organizations should be designated within 14 days, according to AP News.

This bold move has raised alarms in Mexico, with President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasizing that her government would defend its sovereignty while advocating for close cooperation with the United States. In her statements, she reiterated, “We all want to fight the drug cartels,” noting the need for coordination "in their territory, us in our territory," as detailed by VOA News.

While the executive order aims to bolster U.S. strategies against cartels, experts express skepticism about its efficacy. Vanda Felbab-Brown, an organized crime analyst, warned that designating these groups as terrorists could hinder migration efforts, as people associated with cartels in transit might be barred from claiming asylum. “Trump can essentially prevent the vast majority of undocumented migrants trying to cross the U.S. border from getting asylum,” she stated.

Former DEA official Mike Vigil remarked that while the order could allow U.S. authorities to seize cartel assets within the country and sanction associated U.S. citizens, it is unlikely to facilitate any significant new measures against cartels, describing it as “political theater.” He added: “It’s not going to allow the U.S. to send troops into Mexico” since such an action would violate that country’s sovereignty.

This declaration coincides with rising violence attributed to cartels across northern Mexico, where turf wars have intensified following the detention of notorious kingpin Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. Reports indicate an alarming rise in brutal tactics, with gunmen committing acts of violence that have left many civilians caught in the crossfire, further complicating the volatile situation.

Relatives of victims of cartel violence, such as Adrián LeBarón, hope that the executive order will shed light on the plight of their loved ones, stating, “An investigation into terrorism is justice not only for us, but also for every town and corner of the country where a family has been destroyed.”

The implications of Trump's order could ripple through various aspects of U.S.-Mexico relations, as tensions simmer over the chaotic state of cartel violence and the management of migration. An evaluation of its real-world impacts remains to be seen as both nations navigate their respective legal and geopolitical landscapes.