Texas Gov. Abbott Signs Bill Designating Cartels as Terrorist Groups

Texas Gov. Abbott Signs Bill Designating Cartels as Terrorist Groups
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a news conference in Austin, Texas, on March 15, 2023. Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Ryan Morgan
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Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a raft of border security bills on Thursday, including a bill designating drug cartels as terrorist organizations.

Last September, Abbott issued an executive order to designate drug cartels as terrorist organizations and direct resources to counter these groups. The bill Abbott signed on Thursday, SB 1900, expands his prior executive order into law. Republican Texas state Senator Brian Birdwell and Republican Rep. Ryan Guillen coauthored SB 1900.