The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has warned that Mexican drug cartels are offering tiered bounties against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, marking an unprecedented threat to federal personnel.
According to DHS, cartels are reportedly paying $2,000 for intelligence gathering and doxing of agents, $5,000–$10,000 for kidnapping or non-lethal assaults, and up to $50,000 for the assassination of high-ranking officials.
Gangs such as the Chicago-based Latin Kings have also deployed armed “spotters” with radios to track the real-time movements of ICE and CBP officers.
Two weeks ago, the Justice Department charged a Latin Kings member with putting a bounty on Greg Bovino, the CBP commander overseeing surge operations in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland.
“These criminal networks are not just resisting the rule of law, they are waging an organised campaign of terror against the brave men and women who protect our borders and communities,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said.
“Our agents are facing ambushes, drone surveillance, and death threats, all because they dare to enforce the laws passed by Congress. We will not back down from these threats, and every criminal, terrorist, and illegal alien will face American justice.”
The warning comes amid a legal dispute over the deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago, partly intended to protect immigration enforcement officers.
Last week, District Judge April Perry temporarily blocked the deployment of troops from any US state into Illinois for 14 days, arguing there is no credible evidence of rebellion in the state and that the deployment could trigger civil unrest.
The Department of Justice appealed, but the federal appeals court upheld the block while allowing the government to maintain control over Illinois’ National Guard.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
