Overview
- The Trump administration has formally notified Congress of its intent to label Haitian gangs Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs).
- This designation will impose sanctions and penalties on those providing material support to these groups, marking a significant shift in U.S. counterterrorism strategy.
- Viv Ansanm, a coalition of over a dozen gangs, has been linked to attacks that destabilized Haiti, including shutting down the main airport and forcing the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry in 2024.
- Gran Grif, led by 'General Luckson,' has been implicated in a 2024 massacre in Pont-Sondé that killed over 70 people, as well as other violent attacks in Haiti's Artibonite region.
- The move builds on February's FTO designations of eight Latin American cartels and reflects a broader strategy to address transnational crime and migration pressures.