Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is speaking out following President Donald Trump’s recent decision to designate Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) on his first day back in office, a move that comes after more than a year of frustration with the Biden administration’s handling of the issue.
In a passionate post shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) yesterday, Moody expressed her gratitude toward President Trump’s swift action while sharply criticizing President Joe Biden for his lack of response to a pressing issue that continues to fuel violence, drug abuse, and border security concerns in the United States.
“Two years ago, I told Biden to designate Mexican drug cartels Foreign Terrorist Organizations under federal law. He refused. @realDonaldTrump did it on DAY 1!” Moody wrote. “Thank you, President Trump. I look forward to working with you to secure our Southern Border, protect our citizens, and put #AmericaFirst.”
Moody’s comments reflect a broader frustration among some conservative leaders who feel that the Biden administration has been slow to respond to the growing power and violence of Mexican drug cartels, which have contributed to the opioid crisis, human trafficking, and escalating violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. She was joined by 20 other state attorneys general in her demand letter.
“It’s evident that the Mexican drug cartels are terrorist organizations—they are trafficking deadly fentanyl directly across the border, and it is killing tens of thousands of Americans every year. They are also fueling extreme violence at the southwest border and beyond. Sadly, the Biden administration has only emboldened the cartels to commit even more crimes on both sides of the border—through his unlawful immigration policies,” said Moody in her official 2023 press release, demanding President Biden “Declare Mexican Drug Catels Terrorist Organizations“.
The Mexican cartels, including the Sinaloa, Jalisco New Generation, and others, are credited for the trafficking of illegal drugs into the U.S., including fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.
Trump’s designation of these cartels as FTOs gives the U.S. government additional tools to disrupt their operations, including freeze assets, denying entry to cartel members and to pursue stricter punishments.
