---
title: "US designates three Guatemalan gangs as terrorist groups"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-designates-three-guatemalan-gangs-as-terrorist-groups"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-designates-three-guatemalan-gangs-as-terrorist-groups"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-designates-three-guatemalan-gangs-as-terrorist-groups.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-designates-three-guatemalan-gangs-as-terrorist-groups"
category: "Politics"
area: "United States"
published: "2026-11-13T21:05:14.038Z"
source_reported: "2026-11-13T20:03:15.000Z"
updated: "2026-11-13T21:05:14.038Z"
trust_score: 42
critic_score: 59
hype_score: 41
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-11-13T23:30:21.772605+00:00"
---

# US designates three Guatemalan gangs as terrorist groups

*Sanctions imposed on Los Lorenzanas, Los Huistas, and Los Mendoza for drug trafficking ties.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to the US administration, and the reporting is corroborated by 19 outlets.
- Craft 59 of 100, higher is better. The reporting is clear and holds together, but lacks quotes from affected parties or details on what happens next.
- Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. The headline is a direct statement of fact, but the presentation is somewhat sensationalized.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- The Trump administration has declared three Guatemalan gangs, Los Lorenzanas, Los Huistas, and Los Mendoza, to be terrorist groups.
- These groups are accused of financing violence and crime through drug trafficking and have alleged deep ties to Mexican drug cartels.
- Los Lorenzanas was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization, while Los Huistas and Los Mendoza were identified as Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
- The designations subject the groups and their members to U.S. sanctions, including asset freezes.

The Trump administration has declared three Guatemalan gangs, Los Lorenzanas, Los Huistas, and Los Mendoza, to be terrorist groups. The U.S. states these groups finance violence and crime with proceeds from drug trafficking and have deep ties to Mexican drug cartels. Los Lorenzanas was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization, while Los Huistas and Los Mendoza were identified as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. These designations subject the groups and their members to U.S. sanctions, including asset freezes.

## Disagreements on designations

While most reports agree on the designation of the three groups, there are slight variations in how the designations are described. ABC News reports that Los Lorenzanas was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization, while Los Huistas and Los Mendoza were identified as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Anadolu Ajansı states Los Lorenzanas was named a Foreign Terrorist Organization, with Los Huistas and Los Mendoza sanctioned for material support to Mexican cartels. El Economista mentions the U.S. Treasury Department included Los Lorenzana and Los Mendoza on the OFAC blacklist for their drug trafficking activities. The Independent (US) states the State Department designated Los Lorenzanas as a specially designated foreign terrorist and global terrorist organization.

## What the coverage left out

None of the left-rated digests mention the specific details about Los Huistas having support from local politicians and businesspeople, as reported by ABC News. None of the right-rated digests mention the specific designation of Los Lorenzanas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, which was detailed in ABC News and mentioned in some other reports.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 19 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 53% (10)
- Centre: 31% (6)
- Right: 16% (3)

16 of 35 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-11-13T23:30:21.772605+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 5 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-11-14T00:15:06.624Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Six left-rated reports led with the U.S. declaring three Guatemalan gangs to be terrorist groups and imposing sanctions. These reports consistently stated that the Trump administration made these designations due to the groups financing violence and crime with proceeds from drug trafficking. They also noted the alleged deep ties these groups have to Mexican drug cartels. ABC News, the only full report from this side, detailed that Los Lorenzanas was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization, while Los Huistas and Los Mendoza were identified as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. It also quoted Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating, "The Trump administration will continue to use all available tools to protect our nation by keeping illicit drugs off our streets and disrupting the revenue streams funding violent narcoterrorists."

### Centre

- The single centre-rated report led with the U.S. declaring three Guatemalan gangs to be terrorist groups and imposing sanctions. This report stated the Trump administration made these designations because the groups financed violence and crime with proceeds from drug trafficking.

### Right

- Two right-rated reports focused on the U.S. Treasury Department's sanctions against Guatemalan trafficking rings backing Mexican cartels. Anadolu Ajansı reported that Los Lorenzanas was named a Foreign Terrorist Organization, while Los Huistas and Los Mendoza were sanctioned for material support to Mexican cartels. The Free Press (Tampa) stated the U.S. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions against two powerful Guatemalan drug trafficking organizations, the Los Mendoza Drug Trafficking Organization and the Los Huistas Drug Trafficking Organization, accusing them of moving narcotics for Mexico’s largest cartels and acting as essential logistics partners.

**Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- mixed: 3
- high: 9
- unknown: 16
- veryHigh: 7

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [Dnevni list Danas](https://danas.rs/svet/sad-proglasile-tri-gvatemalanska-gangsterska-klana-za-teroristicke-organizacije) — The USA Has Declared Three Guatemalan Gangster Clans as Terrorist Organizations
- [TVN](https://tvn-2.com/mundo/carteles-guatemala-designados-terroristas-eeuu_1_2271002.html) — Guatemala's Cartels: U.S.-Designated Terrorists with Powerful Tentacles
- [lanoticiasv.com](https://lanoticiasv.com/ee-uu-designa-como-organizaciones-terroristas-a-las-bandas-guatemaltecas-los-lorenzanas-los-huistas-y-los-mendoza) — The U.S. Designates the Guatemalan Gangs Los Lorenzanas, Los Huistas and Los Mendoza as Terrorist Organizations - La Noticia SV
- [azeritimes.com](https://azeritimes.com/us-labels-three-guatemalan-groups-as-terrorist-organizations) — US labels three Guatemalan groups as terrorist organizations
- [Interfax.ru](https://interfax.ru/world/1128947) — The United States Has Added Three Guatemalan Groups to the List of Terrorist Organizations
- [kurir.rs](https://kurir.rs/planeta/10161739/amerika-proglasila-tri-gvatemalanska-gangsterska-klana-za-teroristicke-organizacije) — USA INCREASED SANCTIONS: America Declared Three Guatemalan Gangster Clans as Terrorist Organizations
- [Cadena Política](https://cadenapolitica.com/2026/11/13/eu-sanciona-grupos-criminales-guatemaltecos-cartel-sinaloa-cjng) — U.S. Financial Coup: Guatemalan Criminal Groups Allied with the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG Are Sanctioned - Political Chain
- [DiarioBitcoin](https://diariobitcoin.com/mexico/ee-uu-amplia-a-22-la-lista-de-grupos-criminales-latinoamericanos-designados-como-terroristas) — U.S. Expands the List of Latin American Criminal Groups Designated as Terrorists to 22
- [Independent Español](https://independentespanol.com/noticias/america-latina/eeuu-designa-a-3-pandillas-guatemaltecas-como-grupos-terroristas-e-impone-sanciones-b3084827.html) — U.S. Designates 3 Guatemalan Gangs as Terrorist Groups and Imposes Sanctions
- [El Pais](https://elpais.com/america/2026-11-13/estados-unidos-designa-como-organizaciones-terroristas-a-tres-bandas-del-narco-en-guatemala.html) — U.S. Designates Three Drug Trafficking Gangs as Terrorist Organizations in Guatemala · Global Voices
- [The Washington Post](https://washingtonpost.com/world/2026/11/13/things-to-know-terrorist-group-designations/51e557de-dfa1-11f1-912c-4fbb80d73f7f_story.html) — Trump list of US-designated 'foreign terrorist organizations' in Latin America grows to 22
- [WBAL](https://wbal.com/trump-list-of-us-designated-foreign-terrorist-organizations-in-latin-america-grows-to-22) — Trump list of US-designated 'foreign terrorist organizations'
- [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/world/2026/11/trump-list-of-us-designated-foreign-terrorist-organizations-in-latin-america-grows-to-22) — Trump list of US-designated ‘foreign terrorist organizations’ in Latin America grows to 22 – WTOP News
- [Click on Detroit](https://clickondetroit.com/news/world/2026/11/13/trump-list-of-us-designated-foreign-terrorist-organizations-in-latin-america-grows-to-22) — Trump list of US-designated 'foreign terrorist organizations' in Latin America grows to 22
- [Kiro7](https://kiro7.com/news/world/trump-list-us/CBUTTORMAUZJBAWJ3K72E5VXWU) — Trump list of US-designated 'foreign terrorist organizations' in Latin America grows to 22
- [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/us-declares-three-guatemalan-gangs-to-be-terrorist-groups-imposes-sanctions/article_57aa660d-7a47-5cfa-9897-1260aa873934.html) — US declares three Guatemalan gangs to be terrorist groups, imposes sanctions
- [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/us-declares-three-guatemalan-gangs-to-be-terrorist-groups-imposes-sanctions) — US declares three Guatemalan gangs to be terrorist groups, imposes sanctions
- [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/marco-rubio-washington-trump-mexican-sinaloa-cartel-b3084800.html) — US declares three Guatemalan gangs to be terrorist groups, imposes sanctions
- [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/marco-rubio-washington-trump-mexican-sinaloa-cartel-b3084800.html) — US declares three Guatemalan gangs to be terrorist groups, imposes sanctions
- [abc News](https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/us-declares-guatemalan-gangs-terrorist-groups-imposes-sanctions-138120234) — US declares three Guatemalan gangs to be terrorist groups, imposes sanctions
- [elipshaber.com](https://elipshaber.com/abdden-uc-grup-icin-kuresel-terorist-karari) — US Designates Three Groups as 'Global Terrorists'.
- [serpientesyescaleras.mx](https://serpientesyescaleras.mx/estados-unidos-y-paraguay-amplian-acciones-contra-carteles-y-grupos-criminales) — U.S. and Paraguay Designate Criminal Groups Linked to Mexico as Terrorists
- [sondakika.com](https://sondakika.com/guncel/haber-abd-guatemala-daki-uc-grubu-kuresel-terorist-liste-20425771) — The US Has Added Three Groups in Guatemala to Its Global Terrorist List - Breaking News.
- [TV Azteca Guate Digital](https://tvaztecaguate.com/internacionales/2026/11/13/ee-uu-incluye-a-los-lorenzanas-los-huistas-y-los-mendoza-en-lista-de-terrorismo) — United States Includes Los Lorenzanas, Los Huistas and Los Mendoza on Terrorism List
- [Anadolu Ajansı](https://aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-designates-3-guatemalan-groups-as-terrorist-organizations/4124652) — US Designates 3 Guatemalan Groups as Terrorist Organizations
- [zetatijuana.com](https://zetatijuana.com/2026/11/tesoro-de-eu-sanciona-a-dos-organizaciones-guatemaltecas-por-apoyar-al-cds-y-al-cjng) — U.S. Treasury Sanctions Two Guatemalan Organizations for Supporting the CSD and the CJNG
- [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/11/13/us-declares-three-guatemalan-gangs-to-be-terrorist-groups-imposes-sanctions) — US declares three Guatemalan gangs to be terrorist groups, imposes sanctions
- [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/news/world/united-states/us-declares-three-guatemalan-gangs-to-be-terrorist-groups-imposes-sanctions/article_03b12b87-8696-5b25-b8ce-417c0fe26aae.html) — US declares three Guatemalan gangs to be terrorist groups, imposes sanctions
- [WellandTribune.ca](https://wellandtribune.ca/news/world/united-states/us-declares-three-guatemalan-gangs-to-be-terrorist-groups-imposes-sanctions/article_ecc4406a-3d99-577f-a87c-803bd0967c2f.html) — US declares three Guatemalan gangs to be terrorist groups, imposes sanctions
- [www.diariolibre.com](https://diariolibre.com/mundo/estados-unidos/2026/11/13/ee-uu-designa-como-terroristas-a-las-bandas-guatemaltecas/3720014) — The U.S. Designates the Guatemalan Gangs Lorenzanas, Huistas and Los Mendoza as Terrorists
- [Nicaragua Investiga](https://nicaraguainvestiga.com/portada/175636-estados-unidos-designa-a-bandas-centroamericanas-como-grupos-terroristas) — United States Designates Central American Gangs as Terrorist Groups
- [The Free Press (Tampa)](https://tampafp.com/u-s-treasury-hits-guatemalan-trafficking-rings-backing-mexican-cartels) — U.S. Treasury Hits Guatemalan Trafficking Rings Backing Mexican Cartels
- [El Economista](https://eleconomista.com.mx/internacionales/eu-sanciona-dos-bandas-narcotraficantes-sede-guatemala-20261113-843943.html) — US Sanctions Two Guatemala-Based Drug Trafficking Gangs
- [Prensa Libre](https://prensalibre.com/guatemala/justicia/los-mendoza-los-huistas-y-los-lorenzanas-son-designados-como-terroristas-por-ee-uu) — Los Mendoza, Los Huistas and Los Lorenzana Are Designated as International Terrorists by the United States.
- [elsiglodetorreon.com.mx](https://elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/2026/estados-unidos-designa-como-terroristas-a-bandas-guatemaltecas-lorenzanas-huistas-y-los-mendoza.html) — United States Designates Guatemalan Gangs Lorenzanas, Huistas and Los Mendoza as Terrorists

## Questions

**Which Guatemalan gangs have been declared terrorist groups by the US?**

The Trump administration has declared three Guatemalan gangs, Los Lorenzanas, Los Huistas, and Los Mendoza, to be terrorist groups. These designations are part of U.S. efforts to combat drug trafficking and associated criminal activities.

**What are the reasons for these designations?**

The U.S. states that these groups finance violence and crime through proceeds from drug trafficking. They are also accused of having deep ties to Mexican drug cartels, which are major players in the international drug trade.

**What are the consequences of these designations?**

The designations subject the groups and their members to U.S. sanctions, which include asset freezes. Los Lorenzanas also received the designation of Foreign Terrorist Organization, which can lead to criminal prosecution for providing material support.

---

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