Cárteles Unidos and Its Designation as a U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organization

Cárteles Unidos: The United Coalition to oppose the Jalisco Cartel in Michoacán, by Robert Burrell and Manuel Carranza (Read on Substack).

This article analyzes Cárteles Unidos, a Mexican criminal alliance based in Michoacán, and examines why the United States designated it as a foreign terrorist organization. Cárteles Unidos formed as a defensive coalition of several cartels and armed groups to resist the expansion of the Cártel del Jalisco Nueva Generación. The organization primarily operates as a paramilitary force and focuses on protecting member groups and their illicit activities rather than governing territory or building a broader social base.

Burrell and Carranza describe how Cárteles Unidos adapts its structure and resources in response to external threats, particularly violence linked to clashes with the Jalisco Cartel that has also affected Mexican security forces. The assessment notes that incidents such as the use of improvised explosive devices against soldiers likely contributed to the U.S. designation. Leadership under Juan José Farías Álvarez emphasizes mobilization and resistance at the local level, drawing members largely from within Michoacán.

Cárteles Unidos functions through a loosely centralized, consensus-based model that resembles a militia alliance more than a traditional cartel. While it assigns formal roles and coordinates armed actions, it lacks independent financing and a strong information strategy. Despite its political relevance as a coalition, Cárteles Unidos holds limited overall influence and ranks among the least influential U.S. designated foreign terrorist organizations in Mexico.