Governor’s executive order designates Mexican cartels as terrorist organization

EL PASO, Texas - A new executive order issued by Texas Governor Greg Abbott designates Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations.

Gov. Abbott also instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety to dismantle the cartel infrastructure as the national fentanyl crisis increases.

In addition to the executive order, the Governor sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris asking for federal terrorist classification for the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel and any other cartel producing fentanyl.

“Cartels are terrorists, and it’s time we treated them that way. In fact, more Americans died from fentanyl poisoning in the past year than all terrorist attacks across the globe in the past 100 years," said Governor Abbott.

The Governor directed DPS and other law enforcement agencies to identify Texas gangs that work with Mexican cartels seizing the cartel's assets.