United States has formally listed Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel, and other drug cartels as international terrorist groups, a Federal Register notice published on Wednesday stated. The action is part of President Donald Trump’s overall strategy to enhance immigration enforcement and fight organized crime.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that such groups are serious threats to US national security, foreign policy, and economic stability. The designation comes after Trump signed an executive order on January 20 that requested an evaluation of transnational gangs and cartels for potential listing as terrorist groups.

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Earlier this month, Trump delayed levying sharp tariffs on Mexico and Canada, citing a lack of adequate efforts to stem illegal immigration and fentanyl smuggling. Meanwhile, CNN broke the story that the CIA has been flying spy drones in Mexico, a claim Reuters has not been able to verify independently. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the flights, saying they are part of a cooperative pact with the US.

Throughout Trump’s first four-year term from 2017 through 2021, analogous terrorism designations were under consideration but dropped for fear of diplomatic blowback against Mexico and potential judicial entanglements for asylum applicants escaping violence perpetrated by the cartels. Detractors hold that existing designations can risk subjecting migrants to prosecution when they paid the cartels to cross over safely.

The FTO designation enables the US to apply economic sanctions, such as asset freezes and travel prohibitions, to cartel members and associates. Andres Sumano, a security analyst, however questioned the move as the Sinaloa Cartel has disintegrated into small groups, while the Gulf Cartel has already lost significant strength.

The official terrorism label is scheduled to be printed in the Federal Register on Thursday. The State Department released few details, claiming stakeholders are being informed ahead of implementation.