The Trump administration appoints Haitian gangs as “terrorist groups” | Donald Trump News

The United States has described the Viv Ansan and Gran Grif gangs in Haiti, “Foreign Terrorist Organizations”, a step that follows a trend during President Donald Trump’s era Issuing terrorist labels Against criminal groups in Latin America.

As part of Friday announcement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Marco Rubio He explained that the gangs have deployed violence and chaos in Haiti, as armed groups exercise great control over most of the capital, Port or Prince.

“The era of impunity has ended for those who support violence in Haiti,” Rubio said in a news statement.

“Hilate gangs, including the VIV ANSANM and Gran Grif alliance, is the main source of instability and violence in Haiti. It is a direct threat to US national security interests in our region.”

The Trump administration expected a difficult line against Criminal groups In Latin America, it often connects these efforts with local priorities such as irregular transition and drug trafficking.

In February, the United States has also identified eight drug and criminal groups as “terrorist organizations”, including gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). Arajwa train And many Mexican drug gangs.

While such groups implement violence and intimidation, experts usually varied between them and the traditional “terrorist” organizations that usually have clear political goals.

The appointment of the “foreign terrorist organization” makes any member of a specific group unacceptable to enter the United States.

It also prevents the “material support or resources” of the group – a component of the legal danger that can unintentionally punish individuals in the areas where the gangs are deeply included in the economy and the local government.

But Trump and his allies have sought to raise the bet against criminal organizations and dignities, and to blame them for the flow of unrelated immigration and to identify illegal drugs to the United States.

In the past, he and other Republican leaders suggested that the United States can implement it Military strikes In countries like Mexico to treat gang threats, causing potential violations of regional sovereignty.

While the relations between the United States and Mexico are still strong, critics fear that aggressive movements-including the use of terrorist appointment to Mexican cartoons-can undermine cooperation as countries addressing organized crime.

In Haiti, the gang threat is widespread. For example, the VIV ANSANM alliance, whose name translates into “living together”, is believed to control up to 85 percent of the Port-UU-PRINCE, preventing commercial trips from reaching and restricting the necessary supplies such as food and medicine.

With many Haiti civilians who face hunger, displacement and violence, critics fear that the new appointment may make it difficult to send the necessary supplies to the country, given the need to negotiate with gangs.

“The first consequences will be on humanitarian and international cooperation, which is the only thing that prevents people in Haiti from hunger,” said Roman Le Cor, a global initiative against national organized crime.

Experts indicate that gangs often receive movement fees inside and around their lands. The appointment of the “terrorist” can make a criminal crime in the United States.

“It can work as an actual embargo,” said Jake Johnston, director of international research at the Washington -based Economic Research Center.

He added: “Gangs are huge control of the country’s trade.” “Doing any kind of business with Haiti or in Haiti will carry much more risks.”

The gangs have increased control of Haiti in recent years, especially after the assassination of President Jovenil Menas in 2021. His death led to the vacuum of power, and no federal elections have been held since then, which leads to the erosion of public confidence in state institutions.

Gangs took advantage of this void to exercise control. more than million People have been displaced internally due to the resulting violence, and the United Nations estimates that 5.7 million people – nearly half of the country – have no enough food to eat.

Kenya led an unaccounted international security mission in charge of strengthening the local police while fighting gangs. But this task was largely dependent on American support, some of which have been frozen since he took office.

This work squad has struggled to make an impact so far, and in February, a Kenyan police officer was shot and killed as part of the mission, the first known death.

The skeptics also questioned the effectiveness of the international group, given the long and catastrophic history Foreign interventions In Haiti, including the United States.

Trump also attempted to cancel programs such as the temporary protected situation (TPS) and the human conditional release that allows Haitians to live legally in the United States. About 520,694 Haitiin are protected under TPS alone. But during the Trump era, the Ministry of Internal Security is planning to fold the TPS for Haitiin by August.