As former President Donald Trump sharpens his campaign trail rhetoric ahead of 2024, his administration is taking fresh aim at violent gangs—this time, focusing on criminal organizations operating out of Haiti.
In a bold new move, Trump’s team has notified Congress of its intention to officially designate two of Haiti’s most powerful gangs as foreign terrorist organizations—a classification that brings sweeping penalties and opens the door to aggressive enforcement.
Haitian Gangs to Join Terror List as Pressure Mounts
According to a letter sent to congressional committees on April 23, the Trump administration plans to give Haiti’s Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif gangs the same terror label already applied to other criminal groups in Latin America.
This step mirrors action taken back in February, when eight notorious gangs—including MS-13 and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua—were slapped with the same designation.
The designation isn’t just symbolic—it brings real consequences.
Anyone caught offering material support to these groups could now face criminal charges under U.S. law.
This Isn’t Just About Gangs—It’s About Immigration Too
The timing of the announcement lines up with a broader crackdown on immigration.
Trump has already rolled back a Biden-era program that allowed tens of thousands of Haitians to enter the U.S. temporarily under humanitarian grounds.
Now, the administration wants to revoke the protected status of those already in the country.
In fact, the same legal tools being used to label gangs as terrorists—like the Alien Enemies Act—are also being invoked to justify deporting migrants en masse.
This 18th-century wartime law gives the president sweeping authority to detain or deport non-citizens without the usual legal protections, like requesting asylum or appearing before an immigration judge.
Trump Touts His Strategy at Michigan Rally
Trump made sure to spotlight these actions during a rally in Michigan this week.
Speaking to a crowd of supporters, he said, “They’ve been designated the highest level of terrorist, and that lets us do a lot of things that you wouldn’t be able to do.”
It was clear he views these decisions as a win for national security—and a political talking point.
Who Are Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif?
The Haitian gang Viv Ansanm, meaning “Living Together” in Creole, is a coalition of over a dozen gangs, including once-bitter rivals G-9 and G-Pèp.
Formed in September 2023, Viv Ansanm has unleashed wave after wave of brutal attacks—shutting down Haiti’s main international airport for months, breaking open major prisons, and forcing Prime Minister Ariel Henry to step down.
Their grip over the country is terrifying. As of now, gangs are estimated to control 85 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and have recently expanded their reach into previously peaceful neighborhoods.
Gran Grif: One of Haiti’s Most Ruthless Gangs
Gran Grif—also called the Savien gang—is another major force, operating primarily in Haiti’s Artibonite region.
It’s led by Luckson Elan, known as “General Luckson,” and boasts roughly 100 hardcore members.
The group is blamed for some of the deadliest massacres in Haiti’s recent history, including a horrifying attack in Pont-Sondé last October that left more than 70 people dead.
A recent UN report traced the gang’s rise back to Prophane Victor, a former member of Parliament accused of arming local youth.
Victor was arrested in January and has since been sanctioned by both Canada and the U.S. for aiding groups that committed serious human rights abuses.
A Country in Collapse: Gangs, Hunger, and Mass Displacement
Haiti’s crisis is deepening by the day. In 2024 alone, more than 5,600 people were killed, and over a million residents were left homeless due to unchecked gang violence.
Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif have not only taken over territory—they’ve devastated communities.
Their reach has even disrupted sacred traditions.
In recent weeks, gangs attacked Saut d’Eau, a spiritual pilgrimage site, and raided Mirebalais—freeing 500 inmates from a local prison.
Other towns, like Kenscoff and Carrefour, have seen massacres with over 260 dead, while aid organizations struggle to respond.
The UN says that over half the country is now facing severe hunger, and thousands living in makeshift shelters are at risk of starving in the coming months.
International Forces Struggle to Keep Up
The UN-backed mission meant to support Haitian police has struggled to contain the chaos.
In some cases, it’s taken authorities five hours or more to respond to gang attacks.
Even with Kenyan-led international support, the Haitian government and its security forces remain overwhelmed.
Redefining Terrorism in the U.S. Playbook
What’s especially notable about Trump’s latest move is how it broadens the traditional definition of terrorism.
Previously reserved for networks like al-Qaida or ISIS, the “foreign terrorist organization” label is now being used to go after gang violence in the Western Hemisphere.
That’s a significant shift—one that critics say could blur the lines between gang crime and global terrorism, but supporters argue is necessary to fight the growing threat from organized criminal empires.
What Comes Next?
With the terror designations likely to go through, the U.S. government will have even more power to freeze assets, block travel, and prosecute anyone aiding these groups. But as the violence in Haiti rages on—and as the Trump administration pushes tougher immigration and deportation policies—the question remains: Will this strategy truly stop the bloodshed, or just shift the crisis elsewhere?