Newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has issued a directive to make the “total elimination” of drug cartels operating within the United States a top priority. This directive includes accelerating the prosecution of cartel leaders on charges such as terrorism and reconsidering the federal death penalty for cases that warrant it.
The mandate was detailed in one of 14 policy memos signed by Bondi upon assuming office. Her directive signals a significant policy shift aimed at dismantling criminal organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
“This public policy requires a fundamental change in mindset and approach,” Bondi stated in the memo. “We must do more than try to mitigate the enormous damage these groups cause in the United States. It is not enough to simply stop the tide of deadly poisons, such as fentanyl, that these groups distribute in our country. Instead, we must leverage the resources of the Department of Justice and empower federal prosecutors across the country to urgently work with the Department of Homeland Security and other parts of the government toward the goal of eliminating these threats to U.S. sovereignty.”
The memo emphasizes increased collaboration between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Federal prosecutors are instructed to focus on leaders and managers of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, targeting them with the most severe charges available, including capital offenses, terrorism, racketeering, and continuing criminal enterprise charges.
Bondi’s directive signals a return to aggressive prosecution strategies reminiscent of past federal campaigns against organized crime.
Tom Homan, designated as the administration’s “border czar,” reiterated the administration’s tough stance during an interview with ABC News Live. Homan warned that President Donald Trump would not hesitate to deploy the U.S. military in Mexico if American troops were attacked by cartel operatives along the southern border.
“The cartels would be foolish to take on the military,” Homan said. “We know they’ve taken on the Mexican military before, but now we have the U.S. military. Do I expect violence to increase? Absolutely, because the cartels are making record amounts of money. We’re taking money out of their pockets.”
The State Department is reportedly reviewing an executive order from President Trump to determine which Mexican drug cartels should be formally designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). An official recommendation to the president is expected soon.
Another notable development is Bondi’s revival of the death penalty as a possible sentence for federal cases involving capital offenses. The Biden administration had previously issued a moratorium on federal executions. However, Bondi’s memo signals a potential shift back toward seeking the death penalty in the most severe cases, particularly those involving cartel leaders.
In an unprecedented move, Bondi’s memo also directs the Justice Department’s foreign corruption unit to prioritize investigations with ties to drug crimes or cartel operations. This move highlights the administration’s effort to address the international dimensions of cartel-related activities.
Bondi’s aggressive stance signals a return to hardline tactics in the fight against drug cartels. By emphasizing swift prosecutions, enhanced coordination with Homeland Security, and a reconsideration of the death penalty, the Justice Department appears poised to mount a more comprehensive and determined response to one of the most pressing criminal threats facing the nation.
As the administration moves forward, questions remain about the effectiveness and implications of these aggressive measures. However, Bondi’s directives leave no doubt that dismantling drug cartels is now a central focus for federal law enforcement in the United States.