North America
U.S. State Department Labels MS-13, Tren de Aragua, and Mexican Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations
The U.S. government has officially designated several Latin American organized crime groups as terrorist organizations, but the move will do little to help attack these complex criminal networks. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced February 20 that the Venezuelan mega-gang Tren de Aragua, the MS13 street gang, and the … Read more
Three Criminal Impacts of Revoking Temporary Protected Status “TPS” for Venezuelans in the U.S.
The Trump administration officially revoked Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans on February 3. This decision exposes them to deportation, and puts the most vulnerable at risk of falling prey to organized crime. TPS was established by the US Congress in 1990 to provide deportation relief and work permits to … Read more
Marco Rubio’s Visit to El Salvador: Tim Muth’s Remarks on This Visit
Donald Trump’s advisor Stephen Miller said a short time ago that president Nayib Bukele was offering the US “tremendous levels of cooperation” on immigration, and now we know what he meant. During the visit of Secretary of State Marco Rubio to El Salvador this week, Bukele offered to sign an agreement not only to … Read more
El Salvador to Join the US Global Entry Program in 2025, Facilitating Entry Into the United States
The United States Embassy in El Salvador reported yesterday, Friday, January 17, that starting this year, El Salvador will be included in the list of countries with access to the Global Entry program of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection … Read more
How Trump’s Team Could Shape the Future of Anti-Crime Efforts in Latin America
As the new Trump administration takes office, Latin America braces for shifts in US policy, with organized crime high on the agenda. Military strikes on Mexican criminals and a possible retaking of the Panama Canal have already featured in the incoming president’s rhetoric. Drawing from the first Trump administration and statements from his team of … Read more
The U.S. Extends Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Salvadorans Until September 2026
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the extension of the temporary protected status (TPS) for Salvadorans for another 18 months until September 2026. The extensions provide “continued safety and protection” for those Salvadorans legally in the U.S. under the … Read more
The US-Mexico Border Under Trump: What Trump’s Harsh Immigration Policy Means for the Border’s Crime
President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to clamp down on undocumented migrants could play into the hands of criminal groups who stand to profit from higher prices and fresh opportunities if the chaos and confusion expected from his second administration transpire. While the specifics of Trump’s migrant policy are not yet known, the broad strokes appear … Read more