US Brings First-Ever 'Terrorism' Charges for Aiding Mexican Drug Cartel

The United States has announced the first federal charges against a foreign national accused of providing material support to a criminal group that former President Donald Trump designated as a “foreign terrorist organisation.” The accused, Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, a 39-year-old Mexican citizen, was indicted for supplying grenades to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), a notorious Mexican drug cartel, and aiding its smuggling of migrants, firearms, money, and drugs.

The announcement was made by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday, revealing details of the indictment and Navarro-Sanchez’s arrest on May 4. She faces charges alongside two other Mexican co-defendants, who are also accused of firearms trafficking and related crimes. The Mexican government had earlier confirmed her arrest. Evidence presented includes multiple firearms and packages of methamphetamine and fentanyl allegedly linked to the cartel’s operations. Among the recovered weapons was a golden AR-15 rifle, dubbed “El Dorado,” seized from Navarro-Sanchez during her arrest.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi described CJNG and similar cartels as terrorist groups responsible for widespread violence and loss of life in the US, Mexico, and beyond. She emphasized the Justice Department’s firm commitment to securing borders and protecting Americans through strict enforcement and prosecution.

This case stems from a policy initiated early in Trump’s second presidential term, where certain foreign criminal groups—including drug cartels and gangs—were officially designated as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs). On his first day back in office, January 20, Trump signed an executive order declaring international cartels a national security threat beyond traditional organized crime and instructed officials to prepare for applying terrorism designations to these groups.

By February 19, the US Federal Register had listed eight Latin American criminal groups as FTOs, including the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), and Mexico’s CJNG. The Trump administration later expanded the list to include more groups, such as two Haitian gangs, Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif, designated on May 2.

This broadened use of the “foreign terrorist” label marks a departure from its typical application, which usually targets organizations with political goals using violence. Critics warn this expansive classification may have unintended consequences, especially for civilians caught in vulnerable situations. Because the designation makes providing material support to these groups a criminal offense, ordinary people who pay extortion fees or other forced contributions might be inadvertently implicated.

Will Freeman, a Latin America studies fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, cautioned that migrants who pay smugglers or businesses forced to pay protection fees could be charged with supporting terrorism under this policy. This raises concerns about the possible criminalization of innocent civilians coerced into aiding these groups.

The ICE statement highlights the seriousness of the charges against Navarro-Sanchez, describing supplying grenades, firearms, narcotics, and trafficking humans as a direct assault on US security. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons emphasized that such activities go beyond criminal behavior, framing them as threats to national safety.

In summary, the US government has taken a historic step by filing federal terrorism charges against a foreign national connected to a drug cartel designated as a terrorist group. The move reflects a broader strategy initiated under the Trump administration to label certain criminal organizations as foreign terrorist entities, aiming to strengthen legal tools against them. However, the policy's expansive reach and potential impacts on civilians remain subjects of debate and concern among experts and human rights advocates.