The U.S. State Department announced on the 16th that it will officially designate the Venezuelan-based Soles Cartel (Cartel de los Soles) as a foreign terrorist organization on November 24.
At that time, the U.S. will ban members of the Soles Cartel from entering the country and will allow the U.S. to seize the group's assets.
In a statement, Secretary of State Rubio said: "The Soles Cartel is led by Maduro and other senior officials of Maduro's illegitimate regime, who have corrupted Venezuela's military, intelligence agencies, legislative institutions, and judiciary."
He stated: "Maduro and his associates do not represent the legitimate government of Venezuela."
The U.S. Treasury Department had already designated the Soles Cartel as a 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist' back in July and imposed certain sanctions.
Trump Willing to Hold Talks with Maduro
U.S. President Trump stated later that day that he may hold talks with Maduro.
Speaking to reporters as he left Florida to return to the White House, he noted that no decision on the next steps had been made, but that the Venezuelan government hopes to engage in dialogue with the U.S.
He said: "We may have some discussions with Maduro and see what the result is."