Recent arrests of Sinaloa cartel leaders have triggered unprecedented tensions at the U.S.-Mexico border.
At a Glance
- Sinaloa cartel members have been permitted to use force against U.S. Border Patrol agents, changing previous behavior.
- An internal memo indicates increased violence following the arrests of notable cartel leaders.
- Cartel infighting is contributing to a dangerous shift in tactics toward U.S. law enforcement.
- Customs and Border Protection has heightened protective measures for staff and migrants.
Rising Threats at the U.S.-Mexico Border
The recent capture of Sinaloa cartel leaders Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López has incited escalated aggression towards U.S. Border Patrol agents. This change in cartel behavior raises significant concerns as members have been authorized to engage with force. Historically, cartels avoided such violent encounters with U.S. law enforcement to prevent severe repercussions.
As internal conflicts intensify among cartel successors, the struggle for control over critical trafficking corridors has heightened.
“The No. 1 reason they fight for these plazas is because these plazas are the corridors to enter the United States, whether California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and that’s the major fight because the Sinaloa cartel has controlled that whole area,” Victor Avila, retired Supervisory Special Agent with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said.
Directives for Border Patrol Agents
In response to this escalated threat, an internal memo alerts U.S. Border Patrol agents in the El Paso sector to exercise extreme caution. Agents are now advised not to assume that cartel members will shy away from using deadly force. Emphasizing the severity of the situation, military-grade weapons have been found near the border, amplifying fears about the magnitude of the threat faced by both law enforcement and civilians.
“They fear no one anymore, especially US law enforcement,” Avila also said.
With the security of both officers and migrants at increased risk, Customs and Border Protection has bolstered its safety measures. The revelation of cartel blockades and recurrent violence suggests the conflict is far from a swift resolution.
NewsNation has learned drug cartels based in Mexico gave their members permission to shoot U.S. Border Patrol members. Correspondent @AliBradleyTV reports on an alert that went out to Border Patrol agents in El Paso, Texas, detailing the latest threat: https://t.co/wr8JtMHVei pic.twitter.com/HVaSGjlbtp
— NewsNation (@NewsNation) October 17, 2024
The Wider Consequences of Cartel Infighting
The internal discord and subsequent rise in violence within the Sinaloa cartel have led to over 190 fatalities in Sinaloa alone. Cartel leaders have established blockades, conducting brutal checks on drivers’ phones for rival connections.
As reported by Miguel Calderón, “Far from predicting a quick conclusion to this conflict, as the days go by it is observed that public security, respect for human rights, productive activities, the economy, and socio-emotional health are decomposing more and more.”
“Little by little, day by day, people live in fear, schools are empty, young people are disappearing, the streets are empty at night,” Calderón added.
As tensions at the border continue to escalate, President Trump once advocated a possible military response, stating, “We need a military operation. These people have become military. They’re very rich, have a lot of money. They’re among the richest people, probably in the world.”