The classification of Brazilian criminal organizations as terrorist groups by the USA reignited a mobilization of right-wing congressmen who sought, at least 19 times via billschange this classification in the country.
The initiatives aim, in particular, at PCC (First Command of the Capital) and the CV (Red Command), .
Survey of CNN shows that there are at least 18 bills being processed in the Chamber of Deputies that propose changes to the categorization and She Anti-terrorismcreated in 2016. Previously, during the analysis of the call PL Antifactionthe opposition also tried – unsuccessfully – to include the change.
In May 2025, White House representatives had already advocated recognizing transnational criminal organizations as terrorists during a meeting with the Brazilian government. At the time, .
As a result, groups on the right began to mobilize to carry out this change via the Legislature. The main offensive was carried out in the Antifaction project, sent by the government after .
The text underwent a series of changes, but the rapporteur, deputy Guilherme Melts (PP-SP), did not receive support to expand the motivations for the crime of terrorism and faced strong resistance from the government base.
The idea defended by Derrite, however, was not new in Congress. A set of projects in this regard are being processed in the Chamber. The oldest is from 2018.
According to a survey of CNNthe proposals aim to change the Anti-Terrorism Law to expand the concept of terrorism and frame the actions of criminal organizations in Brazil, especially those that promote territorial control and undermine public order.
Of the proposals presented, seven are from PL deputies. The others are authored by parliamentarians from Novo, União Brasil, Podemos and PP. The intention is to reinforce the fight against organized crime and increase punishments. The idea is defended mainly by representatives of the right.
The government, however, is against the classification. Members of the Executive assess that terrorist action is subjective and involves ideological and political issues, while the actions of factions aim for economic profit through the commission of crimes.
One of the proposals, from 2023, establishes the “List of Terrorist Organizations” with more than 80 national and foreign groups listed, including the PCC, CV, Hamas, Hezbollah and even the MST (Landless Rural Workers Movement).
The project is authored by the deputy Paulo Bilynskyj (PL-SP) and had the support of other 50 parliamentarians who signed as co-authors. The proposal awaits analysis at the CCJ (Constitution and Justice Commission).
Expanded ratings
Other projects being processed in the House aimed to classify foreign groups as terrorists, but had reports presented to expand the categorization to Brazilian factions.
This is the case with a proposal from the deputy Dr. Fernando Maximo (PL-RO), presented last year. Initially, the text proposed recognizing the Houthi movement as a terrorist organization.
The deputy’s report Rodrigo Valadares (União-SE) changed the project and proposed the creation of a national list of terrorist people, organizations and entities. The definition of names would be made by decree in a joint act of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Defense. The project, however, is on hold and is still awaiting analysis at the CCJ.
Similar changes were also presented in a PL that recognizes transnational criminal groups operating in Latin America as terrorist organizations. The text of Rodrigo Valadares (União-SE) proposed to include only the Venezuelan organizations Cartel de los Soles and Trem de Aragu as terrorists.
The rapporteur on the Foreign Relations Committee, deputy Luiz Philippe of Orleans and Bragança (PL-SP), included other new organizations: MS-13, Sinaloa Cartel, Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, Cartel del Noreste, La Nueva Familia Michoacana, Cartel del Golfo, Carteles Unidos, Clan do Golfo, Los Choneros, Barrio 18, in addition to PCC and CV. The project is also being processed at the CCJ.
Other proposals
In addition to initiatives that aim to classify criminal organizations, Congress also has several projects that detail new types of “acts of terrorism” or that increase penalties for these conducts.
There are initiatives, for example, to consider practices such as: actions against the environment as terrorist acts; land invasions; attacks against public or private property; possession of restricted firearms; homicide of public security agents; and the so-called “new cangaço”.
At least three other projects aim to classify the crime of “narcoterrorism” to consider drug trafficking by factions as an act of terrorism.
In the Senate, there is also a proposal for Jorge Seif (PL-SC) which determines the creation of a Brazilian Registry of Terrorist Organizations, called CadTerror.
The idea is to hold legal entities responsible for terrorist financing and include preventing and combating terrorist financing in financial intelligence activities. The text, however, is stuck in a thematic commission that has not had new meetings since 2025.
