{"id":16477,"date":"2018-02-21T16:07:36","date_gmt":"2018-02-21T21:07:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/live-immigrationreform.pantheonsite.io\/?p=16477"},"modified":"2018-12-28T10:51:50","modified_gmt":"2018-12-28T15:51:50","slug":"explosives-put-texas-border-cities-edge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.immigrationreform.com\/2018\/02\/21\/explosives-put-texas-border-cities-edge\/","title":{"rendered":"Explosives Put Texas Border Cities on Edge"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mexican authorities safely removed an explosive device found on the main bridge to Laredo, Texas. Is America\u2019s largest inland port<\/a> in terrorists\u2019 crosshairs?<\/p>\n

Across the Rio Grande River sits Nuevo Laredo, home of the violent Los Zetas cartel, which uses Laredo as one of its main drug- and human-trafficking corridors into the United States.<\/p>\n

Discovery of the improvised explosive device (IED) came days after Mexican police found two anti-personnel mines in Camargo<\/a>, 120 miles from Laredo and across the border from Rio Grande City, Texas. The Claymore mines were in underground storage facilities used by the Gulf Cartel to hide weapons and ammunition.<\/p>\n

The Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas \u2013 both classified as Transnational Criminal Organizations<\/a> \u2013 are embroiled in a series of internal fights linked to escalating violence along the Texas border.<\/p>\n

Neither U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), nor U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) commented on the explosive discoveries by Mexican authorities.<\/p>\n

While Congress dithers on President Trump\u2019s border-security proposals, Laredo Mayor Mayor Pete Saenz says action is needed now.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want a secure border. We need it,\u201d said Saenz, whose border town \u201cis not and never has been a sanctuary city\u201d for illegal aliens.<\/p>\n

Cartel-related violence is prompting U.S. authorities to \u201cpush the border out,\u201d says Elaine Duke, deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to have an \u2018away game\u2019 for national security. We must destroy the (cartels\u2019) supply chain earlier,\u201d said Duke, highlighting the necessity for ICE and CBP to strengthen ties with law-enforcement agencies far beyond our borders. Officials said Mexican narcotics cartels move terrorists through their drug corridors, some of which begin deep in Central America.<\/p>\n

A new report from the Director of National Intelligence<\/a> states that economic insecurity and lack of opportunity \u201clikely will remain the principal drivers of (illegal) migration from the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.\u201d<\/p>\n

Increasingly infiltrating the mix of northbound migrants are \u201cspecial interest aliens\u201d<\/a> from Somalia, Syria and Afghanistan \u2013 all Muslim nations with terrorist ties.<\/p>\n

Manuel Padilla, chief of the Border Patrol\u2019s sprawling and largely unguarded Rio Grande Valley Sector, says Mexico is \u201cdoing a good job\u201d of intercepting drugs and weapons \u2013 if not migrants — south of the border.<\/p>\n

By defusing an armed IED on Laredo\u2019s doorstep, Mexican authorities may be doing a more effective job of tracking terrorists, as well. Clearly, the clock is ticking.