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Trump’s move to classify drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations marks a significant shift in the fight against these criminal enterprises, according to Victor Avila, a seasoned former ICE supervisor special agent and author who spoke with Newsmax on Sunday.

“[It’s] music to my ears,” Avila told Newsmax’s “Sunday Agenda.” “I’ve been advocating for this for many, many years, along with a lot of my colleagues, because we understand this is where we are today. This is the game changer, this designation.”

Avila explained that while military resources are being evaluated, the executive order’s impact extends far beyond military intervention. The designation enables authorities to target the cartels’ financial infrastructure, including their money laundering operations and banking activities within the United States. By striking at their economic foundation, law enforcement can begin to dismantle these organizations’ power structure.

The former ICE agent highlighted that the new designation grants immigration authorities expanded powers to apprehend individuals within the U.S. who maintain connections with cartel operations, comparing it to existing protocols for dealing with ISIS affiliates. He expressed interest in seeing how Mexican authorities would respond to this development.

Additionally, Avila discussed Trump’s separate executive order preventing undocumented immigrants from accessing federal benefits. He described this measure as eliminating a key incentive that has historically attracted migrants to the United States.

The policy change, according to Avila, will serve as a deterrent to potential migrants before they undertake the journey northward. He emphasized that the impact would be substantial, particularly in reducing strain on America’s healthcare infrastructure, educational institutions, and criminal justice system, ultimately benefiting U.S. citizens.