By Jason Ryan
ABC News
U.S. counternarcotics officials recently discovered that Mexican drug cartels discussed plots to kill Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Texas Rangers who patrol the U.S.-Mexico border. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management disclosed the information during a hearing this morning on how DHS is battling Mexican drug cartels.
A March 2011 law enforcement bulletin "warned that cartels were overheard plotting to kill ICE agents and Texas Rangers guarding the border using AK-47s by shooting at them from across the border," McCaul said.
U.S. officials could not ascertain how credible the threats were but were concerned enough that they alerted agents operating on the border.
The information is believed to have been derived from intercepted communications.
Asked about the bulletin, a DHS official said, "Out of an abundance of caution, we routinely share information that could impact our frontline personnel in order to ensure that they are aware of any and all threats."
Calls to the Texas Rangers were not returned on Thursday.
Last month two U.S. ICE agents were targeted by cartel members in shooting that killed ICE Special Agent Jaime Zapata and wounded his partner, Special Agent Victor Avila.
McCaul, who has spoken with Agent Avila about the incident, said today, "Both agents pleaded for their lives in Spanish, identifying themselves as United States federal agents. Members of the Los Zetas cartel responded by firing more than 80 rounds from automatic weapons.
"The shooting of Special Agents Zapata and Avila is a game-changer which alters the landscape of the United States' involvement in Mexico's war against the drug cartels," McCaul added at the hearing. President Obama and other top U.S. law enforcement officials have vowed the full force of the federal government to support local Mexican authorities hunting down Zapata's killers and attempting to bring them to justice.
On Wednesday, the Justice Department and DHS offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of the individuals responsible for the shooting.
Today, McCaul introduced legislation to designate the six major Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Such designations are overseen by the State Department under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
You know what's messed up? I've met many detention center guards who hate ICE agents becuase they say the agents are very mean to them. Actually, many ICE agents used to work as detention center guards and as soon as they go to ICE, they let their position and rank get to their head, they say. The detention center guards say ICE gives more credibility and respect to the detainees than to them and they're supposed to be on the same team. If a detainee attacks a guard the ICE agent is more liable to accuse the guard of starting it unless there's video that proves otherwise. Guards say they have no guns, billy-clubs, or even mace to protect themselves in case their attacked by these illegals, who, by the way, have more likely than not, actually comitted some serious crimes both in their home country and here as well. Some have served prison time and are known to be very violent and yet these guards are supposed, I repeat, supposed to, according to regulations set up by ICE, treat them as if they're friendly visitors, not as criminals who've broken the law. Like most I was angered by what happened to Zapata but when I recently asked these detention center guards what they thought of the incident most of them said they have no love for them because ICE will never back them up not even when there's a rumble, they'd prefer to run away and let others deal with violent situations. I wonder why that is. Why would this be going on if they're all supposed to be on the same team fighting for the same cause? Could it be ICE themselves answer to some pretty disrespectful superiors too? Anybody know where would ICE rank as far as agencies go?
ReplyDeleteICE agents are underpaid and the polices put restrictions on what they can and can't do, given the right support I'm sure they would help in turning around the border problems, I know they think there toughs but they haven't really been challenged yet, it's new and still looking for direction, times are getting intresting the conciseness of the people is turning toward evil.
ReplyDeleteOur military and border patrol are impotent due to our laxy daisy government and again the leftist human rights groups along with our weak president.
ReplyDeleteThis is just the beginning and I reckon it won't be long until innocent Americans including tourists find themselves abducted or shot at as a show of terror
To the poster who stated that ICE agents are underpaid - it depends on who you ask. Any working person, law enforcement or not, will tell you their pay is never enough. ICE agents, along with DEA FBI ATF and the rest of the alphabet agencies, get a generous salary with decent benefits, in my opinion. They're salaries are taken from the same federal pay scale. The only difference is that some start at a higher step due to education, experience, etc but eventually they all reach the same level; as a matter of fact, for the first 4 or 5 years they rise one step in the pay scale; after that, the remaining 2 steps are given to those who are promoted to supervisory positions. After 5 years of service, federal agents are pulling in six figures. In the end, no amount of money is never enough to put your life on the line each and every day, but the men and women who join know the risks and rewards.
ReplyDeleteOh noooo...Napolitano says the border is more secure than ever! American tourists should feel confident passing back and forth across the border.
ReplyDeleteImjustagirl
The U.S. needs to take all of Chapo Guzmans money and build a huge security fence, one that looks like it was built within this century by people that know what they are doing... What do they expect when there is no type of fence at the border?
ReplyDeleteShoot at U.S Agents and the wrath of god and America will pour down on those filty loser gangbanger thugs. They are no match for the Americans. We will fuck them up. period!!!
ReplyDeleteBring it on putos!! Mess with us and we will grind you up and feed you to the pigs and you will come back as what you are today. PIG SHIT!!
good ..please do it ...so all us armed to the teeth Americans will have an excuse to start sniping the south side of the river...fixing to buy a scoped 30-06 just for some narcos ..just in case you wonder ...effective range is about one mile...and when it hits your big time arrogant zeta head...your head will pretty much explode ...sound good ?...keep it up chupa vergas, please , I want to kill you ..just got to get the ok ...
ReplyDelete@DFL April 4, 2011 9:53 AM
ReplyDeleteThey already shot and killed one, where is the "wrath of god and America will pour down on those filty loser gangbanger thugs"
Hmmmm....haven't seen it yet.....
@8:48
ReplyDeleteLaxy daisy? WTF is laxy daisy?
Is it possible that you meant lackadaisical?
@ April 4th 2:35
ReplyDeleteAsk the thousand plus who lost thier freedom, millions in cash and assets and tons and tons of weed and coke confinsacted since Jamie Zapatas Death. The wrath of American law enforcement IS upon them as we speak. Its called OPERATION FALLEN HERO-google it and you can see some of the pain that they are suffering for fucking with us.
Your just uninformed and living in lala land!!
I don't see how they're going to shoot ICE Agents or Texas Rangers who patrol the border if most of those guys work in the office not on the border, wouldn't that be Border Patrol? Just saying.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to realize that these members of the drug cartels are getting their AK-47's from the US. Just look at the recent scandal with the ATF. As long as the US legislation allows any to buy firearms, as if these were candy, violence on both sides of the border will keep escalating. The cause "No More American Weapons in Mexican Soil" focuses on this issue and has the mission of raising awareness about this link.
ReplyDeleteThe cartels need to be labeled and treated as terrorists.. Then maybe sh*t will get done and we'll go after them full force..
ReplyDelete