Cartel Struggles Intensify: Threats to Border Patrol Amid Leadership Chaos

Border protection vehicle near a large metal fence.

As tension escalates along the U.S.-Mexico border, a new threat emerges from within the ranks of the Sinaloa cartel.

At a Glance

Sinaloa cartel members permitted to target U.S. Border Patrol agents.
Significant behavioral shift post-arrests of senior cartel leaders.
Internal power struggles trigger heightened aggression at the border.
Security measures intensified for Border Patrol agents and migrants.

Increased Threats to Border Patrol

The Sinaloa cartel’s recent maneuver to sanction violence against U.S. Border Patrol agents represents an alarming change in strategy. Historically, cartels have steered clear of direct confrontations with U.S. law enforcement, understandably wary of potential repercussions. In a break from the past, cartel members are now seemingly authorized to engage aggressively with U.S. personnel.

Internal memos suggest a substantial shift in cartel operations, triggered by key arrests within the cartel’s leadership, including Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López. The arrestees’ absences have ignited a power vacuum, unsettling established hierarchies and prompting a surge in violence at critical trafficking corridors.

Sinaloa cartel weighing what is “bad for business?” https://t.co/6FcecNJC84

— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) October 17, 2024

Root Causes and Implications

Infighting among younger cartel leaders vying for control of lucrative entry points into the U.S. underlies this uptick in hostility. Former Homeland Security agent Victor Avila emphasizes, “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’s observation underscores the strategic importance these geographic areas hold for the cartel’s operations.

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

Impacts and Rising Concern

Reports indicate military-grade weapons have appeared near the border, intensifying apprehension about potential attacks. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency is addressing the menace seriously, advising agents, particularly in the El Paso sector, to maintain heightened vigilance. Efforts are underway to safeguard law enforcement and provide protection to migrants, who often find themselves caught in the crossfire of cartel conflicts.

To compound matters, cartel checkpoints in places like Culiacán offer frequent violent encounters, as operatives inspect civilians’ phones for rival affiliations. “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,” remarks Miguel Calderón, reflecting on the deteriorating conditions.

This alarming escalation, coupled with the cartel’s audacious tactics, points to a potential crisis at the border. U.S. agencies remain on high alert as they navigate this volatile landscape.