Chuck Marino, a former senior advisor to the Department of Homeland Security, expressed concerns on Monday about President Donald Trump’s reported order for U.S. troops to use military force against drug cartels.
It has been noted that Trump secretly signed an order aimed at cartels, which his administration has designated as foreign terrorist organizations, according to the New York Times. Marino mentioned on “News Nation Now” that he thinks this strategy could be effective in diminishing cartel operations by making them feel less secure.
“I think the military’s involvement is a possibility, given the cartels’ designation as foreign terrorist organizations. There are other strategies that can be considered for tackling the cartels,” Marino stated. He elaborated that a key approach would be to pursue their leadership and disrupt their ongoing drug, weapon, and human trafficking operations.
He also added, “I think this could create confusion and act as a deterrent. When cartels are forced to hide, they can’t function properly.” However, he acknowledged that this is just one angle, pointing out broader challenges, especially with the connections to Chinese entities involved in the drug trade, particularly fentanyl. “We need to act more decisively to disrupt these networks,” he suggested.
Sources from the NYT indicate that Pentagon officials are starting to develop military strategies to target Latin American criminal organizations contributing to the influx of illegal drugs in the U.S.
Attorney Alan Delsitz commented on the legal framework enabling Trump’s actions against the cartels, noting that they were officially labeled as foreign terrorist organizations in a presidential order signed on January 20.
He reflected on the historical context, stating that while the Constitutional Framers intended for Congress to declare war, modern conflicts often do not follow this protocol. Thus, a president can send troops to combat foreign terrorist organizations, as seen with actions against groups like the Taliban.
During a press conference in the Oval Office on January 20, when asked about potentially sending troops to Mexico, Trump responded, “It could happen. Strange things happen.” He reiterated in May his willingness to deploy troops against the cartels, emphasizing the perceived threat they pose to the United States.
“The cartels are trying to destroy our country. They’re evil!” he remarked, also commenting on Mexican President Claudia Sinbaum. He mentioned her concerns about the cartels affecting her decision-making.
President Sinbaum unequivocally rejected Trump’s proposal, stating that the U.S. has no intention of sending military forces into Mexico. “We work together and collaborate, but there will be no invasion — that’s completely out of the question,” she stated. She reiterated that this had always been her position.
