Trump Labels Haiti’s Powerful Gangs Terrorists

A powerful alliance of armed gangs that has plunged Haiti into violence and launched attacks against state institutions was designated on Friday as a terrorist group by the Trump administration.

The move is likely to worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis in Haiti, experts said, since gangs control much of the country’s economy and infrastructure, including ports and major roads, and extort businesses and the local population.

President Trump’s designation gives the U.S. broad power to impose economic penalties on the criminal groups, and potentially even to take military action. But it also allows sanctions to be imposed on anyone whom the United States accuses of having dealings with the gangs.

“The age of impunity for those supporting violence in Haiti is over,’’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a social media post.

Depending on how it is enforced, the declaration could end nearly all trade with Haiti, some experts say, since virtually no goods can move in or out of the capital, Port-au-Prince, without the payment of fees to the gangs, which control much of the city.

The coalition of gangs, called Viv Ansanm — “Living Together” in Haitian Creole — formed in 2023 and pledged to protect civilians, but then immediately launched attacks against communities, prisons, hospitals and police stations.