The United States government has signaled its intention to classify two prominent Brazilian gangs as “terrorist” organizations, further reflecting a broader trend under the Trump administration to conflate criminal behavior with terrorism. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Thursday that this designation will specifically target the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and the Comando Vermelho, which are among the largest and most influential criminal networks in Brazil.

The new classification, set to take effect on June 5, will assign these gangs the label of “Foreign Terrorist Organization.” Initially, the groups had been placed under a similar category of “Specially Designated Global Terrorists,” which derives its authority from the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Both labels effectively restrict the groups’ access to U.S. assets, yet the “terrorist” designation is recognized as carrying even more severe implications.

Rubio articulated that these