Trump Designates Mexican Cartels as Terrorist Organizations, Raising Sovereignty Concerns

A recent investigation into a ranch in Teuchitlán, Jalisco, Mexico, has revealed alarming tactics used by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) to recruit members. Authorities say the cartel lured recruits through fake job advertisements, primarily posing as security guards with enticing salaries of approximately $600 per week, above average rates. Those who resisted recruitment risked severe repercussions, including torture and murder, underscored by testimonies from survivors, as detailed by Mexico’s Public Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch. The CJNG has rapidly evolved into one of Mexico's most formidable criminal organizations, with an estimated 19,000 members. It has been linked to various violent incidents, expanding its influence across 21 of Mexico’s 32 states, surpassing the Sinaloa cartel's presence. The cartel, led by Nemesio Rubén “el Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, has also faced accusations of colluding with local authorities, raising concerns over public safety and governance. President Claudia Sheinbaum and Jalisco's governor condemned recent public displays of admiration for Oseguera, advocating for strict scrutiny of criminal activities intertwined with local governance.

In Mexico, a group of women known as "madres buscadoras," searching for their missing relatives, lament the government's failure to address the escalating issue of forced disappearances. Following the discovery of a mass grave in Teuchitlán, they criticized President Claudia Sheinbaum for her inaction until the incident came to light. According to Maria Isabel Cruz, a mother searching for her son since 2017, these searches have become increasingly perilous due to threats from drug cartels and negligence from law enforcement (Moya & Santos, 2025). The current crisis sees about 125,000 people reported missing, a direct result of rampant violence tied to organized crime (Moya & Santos, 2025). Despite recent declarations of legal reforms to unify databases of missing persons, critics, including Virginia Garay from the group Warriors in Search of Our Treasures, express skepticism over the government's commitment, urging recognition of the issue's magnitude (Moya & Santos, 2025). Families continue to face intimidation while searching for their loved ones, highlighting a profound lack of support from authorities in the face of systemic violence.

In Mexico, a group of women known as "madres buscadoras" is raising alarm over a recent discovery of a mass grave in Teuchitlán, Jalisco, which reveals the chilling scale of forced disappearances under the influence of drug cartels. These mothers, searching for their missing loved ones, have criticized President Claudia Sheinbaum for her inadequate response to the crisis, asserting that action was only taken after the mass grave's discovery. According to María Isabel Cruz, one mother searching for her son, “We live with more fear than ever” due to both the active threats from cartels and government inaction. The mothers argue that their efforts to locate missing persons are often undermined by legal complacency and cartel intimidation. Virginia Garay, another member, expressed dismay over the government's failure to effectively assist families. Despite challenges, they continue to search, raising awareness through vigils and public protests across the nation. The discovery of charred remains in other regions signals the extensive nature of this tragedy while intensifying calls for governmental accountability and justice.