Even Mexico should recognize cartels as terrorist organizations

The undeclared war against the Mexican criminal cartels went hot again last Monday, when cartel gunmen opened fire on U.S. Border Patrol agents in Fronton, Texas, during an illegal smuggling operation.

Mexican cartels, terror organizations by any reasonable definition, now feel so emboldened they are shooting at American law enforcement on U.S. soil. This is precisely why President Trump’s decision to designate these cartels as foreign terrorist organizations was not just necessary — it was long overdue.

But the real question here is not why the U.S. designated these cartels as terrorists, but why Mexico has not. How can the Mexican government even pretend to claim sovereignty when up to 40 percent of its territory is under cartel control?

For years, Mexico has either turned a blind eye or been too weak to confront these monstrous syndicates, allowing them to terrorize both Mexicans and Americans. Meanwhile, Trump’s bold move has redefined U.S. policy, marking the first time in a generation that the U.S. has stood up to Mexico’s inaction on cartels.

The foreign terrorist organization designation is a game-changer, as it unlocks critical tools for U.S. law enforcement to combat these terrorists — seizing assets, charging material support to terrorism, and even deploying Special Forces if necessary. This wasn't possible before, and it is outrageous that it took so long for anyone in power to act.

As others have argued, Trump's decisive action on cartels already makes his presidency one of the most consequential in a generation even if he accomplishes nothing else for the next four years.

Yet while the U.S. is fighting back, Mexico remains paralyzed. In a typical move of deflection that no longer surprises anyone, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum parroted empty slogans about Mexico’s “sovereignty” and “independence” — but what sovereignty is left when cartels control up to 40 percent of your country’s territory?

Mexico has spent years refusing to confront these cartels as the terrorist organizations they are — letting their citizens live in terror while longing for their government to act. A recent survey by my organization shows that 78 percent of Mexicans see their country’s security risks as unacceptable, yet Mexico’s government denies reality, playing the victim instead of stepping up.

Why does Mexico refuse to call cartels what they are — terrorists? The answer is simple: money and corruption. Cartels are entrenched in every corner of Mexican society, from the streets to the halls of power.

Andrés Manuel López-Obrador, Mexico’s last president, went so far as to admire drug lords, claiming they were more “respectful” than white-collar criminals and proposing “social pacts” with them.

He also made it clear that Mexico would not tolerate any U.S. intervention in its fight against organized crime or drug traffickers. He frequently accused U.S. officials of overstepping, and in April 2023, he boldly declared that he would use Mexico's armed forces to protect trafficking cartels from U.S. action.

His “hugs, not bullets” policy isn’t just weak — it’s a surrender to organized crime. How can the Mexican government claim to care about its people when it protects the very terrorists killing them? Why else would the government care so much about the fate of these drug traffickers unless it is colluding?

Mexico’s refusal to label cartels as terrorists only highlights its political dysfunction and complicity. Trump deserves full credit for his decisive actions. It is time for Mexico to wake up and take responsibility. If it won’t, the U.S. will continue to do what Mexico refuses to — protect its own citizens and its borders.

For too long, U.S. administrations have played nice with Mexico, afraid to upset the status quo. Under Trump, for the first time in a generation, there is accountability. The U.S. is defending its sovereignty — and Mexico is taken aback.

It’s about time for Mexico to stop pretending that the cartels are anything but the terrorist organizations they are. If Mexico won’t do it, the U.S. will.

Melissa Ford is a senior fellow for the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Secure and Sovereign Texas campaign, which strives to keep our nation safe and free.

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