The U.S. Department of State announced today that it will designate the Brazilian criminal groups Comando Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) and plans to classify them as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), with the measures taking effect on June 5, 2026.
CV and PCC rank among Brazil’s most violent criminal organizations. They collectively command thousands of members and have carried out numerous brutal attacks on police officers, public officials, and civilians. Their illicit networks span well beyond Brazil’s borders, reaching throughout the region and into the United States.
These actions are authorized under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224. The FTO designation becomes effective upon publication in the Federal Register.

