The Trump administration is in a tough position. They’re working around the clock to secure the nation.
And now Trump’s Director of National Intelligence has rushed a critical report to the Oval Office.
Trump Admin Identifies Thousands Of Terrorists For Deportation
The Trump administration has made significant strides in its first 100 days for national security, with the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) identifying nearly 1,200 alleged terrorists illegally residing in the United States. On his second day in office, President Trump issued a sweeping executive order designating Mexican cartels, the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), and Salvadoran La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) and specially designated global terrorists (SDGTs).
“The Cartels have engaged in a campaign of violence and terror throughout the Western Hemisphere that has not only destabilized countries with significant importance for our national interests but also flooded the United States with deadly drugs, violent criminals, and vicious gangs,” the order states, outlining the grave dangers these groups pose. The directive also notes that cartels “functionally control, through a campaign of assassination, terror, r*pe, and brute force nearly all illegal traffic across the southern border of the United States,” often acting as quasi-governmental entities in parts of Mexico.
The executive order further addresses the threats from TdA and MS-13, stating, “TdA and MS13 gang members also pose similar threats, engaging in campaigns of violence and terror in the United States and internationally are extraordinarily violent, vicious, and similarly threaten the stability of the international order in the Western Hemisphere.” This designation marks a bold step toward confronting these groups head-on, presenting what the administration calls “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”
Leading the charge is Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who oversees the NCTC. Gabbard took to X on Monday to announce that, following the FTO designations, she directed her staff to prioritize identifying terrorists illegally present in the U.S. “As of Monday, the NCTC had identified and provided leads to law enforcement on approximately 750 individuals with ties to MS-13, Tren de Aragua, and the Sinaloa Cartel as a part of its screening and vetting process,” she said. This group represents the first wave of alleged terrorists targeted by the NCTC, focusing on those linked to the newly designated FTOs.
The urgency of this initiative cannot be overstated, particularly in light of the violent expansion of TdA, which spread to at least 22 states during the Biden administration, as exclusively reported by The Center Square. Under the previous administration, lax border policies allowed transnational gangs to flourish, contributing to a surge in crime and instability. The Trump administration’s proactive stance aims to reverse this trend, prioritizing the safety of American communities.
In addition to tackling cartel and gang-related threats, the NCTC is addressing Islamic terrorism. Gabbard revealed that the agency is “actively working to track down the location of illegal migrants who previously used an ISIS network to enter our country so they can be deported immediately.” This effort targets 400 illegal foreign nationals identified last year by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), who were released into the U.S. under the Biden administration and are linked to an ISIS-affiliated human smuggling network in Central Asia, according to The Center Square. “To date, we have identified more than 400 of these individuals with terror ties,” Gabbard said, though it remains unclear if these are the same individuals flagged by DHS.
The combined total of nearly 1,200 alleged terrorists identified by the NCTC points to the scale of the challenge inherited from the previous administration. The Biden years saw an unprecedented influx of known or suspected terrorists (KSTs), with a record 1,903 apprehended between fiscal years 2021 and 2024, as reported by The Center Square. Alarmingly, 64% of these—1,216 individuals—entered via the northern border from Canada, while 687 were apprehended at the southwest border, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data.
The Trump administration’s response has been swift and comprehensive. On February 6, Secretary of State Marco Rubio formalized the FTO designations, which took effect on February 20, as reported by The Center Square. This move empowers federal agencies to pursue these groups with the full weight of U.S. law, signaling to both domestic and international audiences that the U.S. will not tolerate threats to its sovereignty.
Gabbard’s leadership has been pivotal in streamlining national security efforts. “We are also working to ensure those who enter our country are vetted through a single source, as well as those who already entered our country illegally,” she said. This initiative aims to create a unified vetting process across federal agencies, ensuring that terrorists are identified and removed efficiently. By centralizing and strengthening these procedures, the administration seeks to prevent future breaches and restore confidence in the nation’s immigration and security systems.
The context of these actions is critical. Under the Biden administration, Islamic terrorist incidents increased, and public concern about terrorism grew, with a majority of Americans polled indicating that dangers had escalated, according to The Center Square. The Trump administration’s focus on rooting out illegal terrorists directly addresses these fears, offering a stark contrast to the perceived leniency of its predecessor.
President Trump’s executive order also directed key cabinet members—including the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Homeland Security, alongside Gabbard—to implement measures to combat these threats. This multi-agency approach ensures that resources and intelligence are leveraged effectively, creating a robust framework to dismantle terrorist networks operating within U.S. borders.
The designation of cartels and gangs as FTOs carries significant implications. By treating these groups as equivalent to traditional terrorist organizations like ISIS, the administration can access enhanced legal and financial tools to disrupt their operations. This includes freezing assets, imposing sanctions, and coordinating international efforts to weaken their influence, all of which align with Trump’s promise to secure the border and protect American lives.
Critics may argue that the administration’s approach is overly aggressive, but supporters see it as a necessary response to years of unchecked illegal immigration and rising crime. The identification of nearly 1,200 alleged terrorists in just 100 days demonstrates the administration’s commitment to action over rhetoric, a hallmark of Trump’s leadership style.
Looking ahead, the Trump administration faces the challenge of sustaining this momentum. Tracking down and deporting individuals with terror ties is no small feat, particularly given the complexities of coordinating across federal, state, and local law enforcement. However, the early successes of the NCTC suggest that the administration is well-positioned to make meaningful progress.
The Conservative Column will keep you in the loop on any further news from the Trump administration.
