Which Mexican cartels are targeted by the US military?

And Crenshaw there Michael Waltzlawmakers from Texas and Florida, respectively, presented to the United States Congress a proposal to authorize the use of the armed forces against the mexican cartels.

Specifically, members of Congress seek to grant powers to the the American army to “combat, attack, resist, target, eliminate and limit the influence” of the criminal groups responsible for treat fentanyl —or related substances—and those involved in the violence that caused a “regional destabilization in the Western Hemisphere”.

In this sense, the resolution listed the nine criminal organizations that, in the opinion of the aforementioned legislators, should be confronted with the military forces:

1. Sinaloa Cartel (CDS)

2. Jalisco Next Generation Cartel (CJNG)

3. Gulf Cartel (CDG)

4. Zetas Cartel

5. Northeast Cartel (CDN)

6. Juarez Cartel

7. Tijuana Cartel, also known as the Arellano Félix Cartel (CAF)

8. Beltran Leyva Cartel

9. The Michoacan Family / Templar Cartel

Among the arguments presented by Crenshaw and Waltz before the House of Representatives American are some of the episodes that made these criminal groups infamous.

For example, they mentioned the active participation of the Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generación cartels in the trafficking of substances such as fentanyl to the United States, a narcotic that causes approximately 80,000 deaths per year and it is the leading cause of death for citizens of this country between the ages of 18 and 45.

The most recent reports from the Centers for Disaster Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that, from September 2021 to September 2022, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and tramadol were implicated in 68 million 82 overdose deaths in the United States.

This figure was 2.7 times higher than deaths caused by drug overdose. cocaine (25,142) and 11 times higher than deaths due heroin (six thousand 170).

Additionally, members of Congress have expressed concern over the constant intimidation, ambushes, kidnappings, torture, and murders by Mexican cartels against Mexican security agents. One of the most important acts in this regard was the execution of Jose Silvestre Urzua Padillacoordinator of the National Guard (GN) in Zacatecas, which occurred on November 24, 2022.

The bill came to the United States House of Representatives from January 2023 and, so far, it remains pending. For the use of “all necessary and appropriate force” by the U.S. Armed Forces to take effect against the Mexican cartels, the proposal must be approved by said legislative body and sent to the Senate.

In the event that the Senate gives the green light to this resolution, it will reach the hands of the President Joe Biden and it will be he who, in the end, will have the last word to decide whether the project becomes law.

Of note, the document presented to Congress claims that if US military action against Mexican cartels were authorized, this measure would last five years.

“The authority to use all necessary and appropriate force (…) shall terminate on the date which is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this joint resolution”, reads the official document of the House of representatives.