Mexican cartels 'green light' firing on US forces amid Trump crackdown on immigration, drugs: Report

On Monday itself, US Border Patrol agents exchanged gunfire with suspected cartel members along the US-Mexico border near Fronton, Texas. However, reports suggest that this could be far from an isolated incident as we get further into the Trump presidency.

A week after US President Donald Trump used his executive authority to designate cartels as foreign terrorist organisations and clamped down on illegal immigration, Mexican cartels are responding in kind, engaging with US forces in cross-border exchanges of fire.

On Monday itself, US Border Patrol agents exchanged gunfire with suspected cartel members along the US-Mexico border near Fronton, Texas.

The incident took place as a group of illegal immigrants were attempting to cross over, but neither US forces nor cartel members were injured in the exchange. However, reports suggest that this could be far from an isolated incident as we get further into the Trump presidency.

According to a report by The Mirror, Monday's exchange could be the first of many, with cartels reportedly giving nod to its members to engage with US forces along the border.

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes aka El Mencho, a leader and the founder of the Jalisco Nueva Generacion Cartel (CJNG), has reportedly told his cartel members to 'prepare' to respond to Trump's actions, and the CJNG has been arming itself with high-calibre weapons and rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) to that end.

The report, citing journalist and podcaster Anabel Hernandez, further claimed that El Mencho is planning to call a meeting with cartel bosses on how to prepare for potential attacks by US forces, with the leader apparently expecting anti-cartel "covert operations" by the Trump administration.

Another journalist—Anna Giaritelli of Washington Examiner—also claimed on X that Mexican cartels, as of January 21, had put a "green light" to open fire on US forces in response to Trump's crackdown.

Giaritelli added that Trump's crackdown is slated to cost the cartels billions of dollars annually, something that could explain the drastic escalating in dealing with US forces along the border.

Since Trump's decision to crackdown on illegal immigration and declare a border emergency, the US Department of Defence has sent 1,500 active-duty service members to the southern border.

Trump has also threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Mexico (in addition to Canada) unless the flow of illegal immirgants to the US comes to a stop. As of writing this, the US President still plans on imposing said tariffs from February 1.