Overview

• The State Department on Tuesday added Barrio 18 to the foreign terrorist organization list and also named it a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
• Officials said Barrio 18 has carried out attacks on security forces, public officials and civilians in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
• The action places Barrio 18 alongside MS-13, Tren de Aragua and Mexican cartels such as Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation, with nearly a dozen such groups designated this year.
• Both labels trigger asset freezes and bar U.S. persons from providing material support or conducting business with the group.
• The move follows expanded use of terrorism authorities for counter-narcotics operations, drew support from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and comes as President Trump publicly praised El Salvador’s anti-gang crackdown.