Chad Wolf, former Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said that President Trump's designation of cartels as foreign terrorist organizations will enable the U.S. to "confront" them with the "full force of the law." Wolf made this statement in a January 20 AFPI press release.
"To secure our borders, protect our communities, and defend our sovereignty, we must confront the cartels with the full force of the law," said Wolf, Former Homeland Security Secretary, Executive Director of America First Policy Institute. "The FTO designation sends a clear message that their extortion, trafficking and violence will not be tolerated, and we will act decisively to dismantle their networks and restore safety and justice to our borders."
According to the White House, Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States on January 20. In his inaugural address, he announced plans to sign several executive orders, including declaring a national emergency at the southern border. "All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came," said Trump.
On January 20, AFPI and the Texas Public Policy Foundation released new research on Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and the implications of designating Mexican cartels as FTOs. According to an AFPI news release, cartels have built operations involving human trafficking, drug smuggling, and sex trafficking at the southern border. These organizations operate as transnational criminal entities with international networks and ties to officials at various levels in Mexico. Their financial power has grown, allowing for expanded operations such as large-scale human trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border.
The FTO designation would introduce legal measures including extraterritorial jurisdiction to prosecute cartel members abroad and material support charges applicable to traffickers, corrupt officials, and drug clients. According to AFPI, migrants paying cartels for passage or ransom could face criminal penalties and expedited removal under immigration law. The designation would enhance asset seizures by targeting a wider range of associates involved with cartel finances. This move could pressure Mexico's government to address its connections with cartel operations.
According to the Wilson Center, once designated as an FTO there are three legal implications: The U.S. can prosecute individuals acting in foreign countries not typically subject to U.S. criminal law; any U.S. financial institution aware of FTO-possessed funds must report it to the Office of Foreign Assets Control; and any alien supporting or being associated with an FTO is inadmissible and removable from the U.S. These actions fall under various agencies' responsibilities including the FBI, National Counterterrorism Center, Department of Justice, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the U.S. Treasury Department.
Wolf serves as Executive Director of AFPI while also holding positions as Chief Strategy Officer and Chair for its Center of Homeland Security and Immigration. According to AFPI's website, prior to his role at AFPI Wolf spent ten years in private sector roles before becoming Acting Secretary of Homeland Security.
