Strategic Guide for Civil Society in Latin America: Navigating the U.S. Security Agenda and Risks of Criminalization
The U.S. government’s recent designation of several Latin American drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations has raised serious legal and human rights concerns across the region. Framed as part of a strategy to combat transnational crime, these initiatives expand counterterrorism laws in ways that could criminalize civil society organizations, humanitarian actors, and communities in the region that working to protect fundamental rights in Latin America.
Context
Through new executive and policy actions adopted in early 2025, the United States extended terrorism-related sanctions to several criminal organizations operating in Latin America. These designations carry far-reaching implications for international cooperation and civic space, introducing compliance risks and potential restrictions for organizations working on justice, human rights, or community support. Civil society groups have warned that such measures could hinder humanitarian assistance, heighten surveillance, and lead to further militarization and the closure of civic space.
This guide, produced with the Pro Bono Network of the Americas, seeks to provide civil society organizations with a practical tool to understand the scope and implications of these designations, assess potential risks, and identify strategies to protect their work and civic space in Latin America.
