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Rep. Dan Crenshaw Calls for Expanded U.S.-Mexico Efforts Against Drug Cartels Following Cartel Leader’s Death
Following the death of “El Mencho,” the leader of what he describes as “the most violent and deranged cartel” in Mexico, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) is urging Congress to increase support for joint U.S.-Mexican efforts in combating drug cartels.
“This is the beginning of the war against the most violent and deranged cartel in Mexico: El Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación or CJNG,” Crenshaw stated in a social media post on Monday. The former Navy SEAL views the strike against El Mencho as a critical opportunity to enhance coordination between American and Mexican forces.
Crenshaw emphasized that while much attention has been focused on the Sinaloa cartel, the operation against CJNG represents a necessary shift in priorities. “Both are major traffickers of fentanyl, but CJNG is more like ISIS than the mafia,” he explained, highlighting the particularly violent nature of the organization.
The congressman has been proactive in addressing the cartel threat, having authored multiple pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening military, intelligence, and law enforcement efforts in Mexico. In 2023, Crenshaw introduced a bill with 24 cosponsors that would authorize the U.S. military to “combat, attack, resist, target, and eliminate” narcotraffickers. This legislation, if implemented, would permit President Donald Trump to deploy American military forces against foreign entities determined to be trafficking fentanyl into the United States.
More recently, Crenshaw has spearheaded the North America Security Initiative, designed to increase U.S. support for Mexican special forces. Drawing parallels to American aid to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, he advocates for providing Mexico with essential equipment, weapons, and intelligence to strengthen bilateral relations and combat capabilities against cartels.
“Unilateral action will only serve to alienate existing partnerships. Our near-term goal is the disruption of fentanyl networks that are killing Americans on a daily basis,” states an information packet from Crenshaw’s office regarding the initiative.
The Texas representative’s push comes amid escalating violence in Mexico following El Mencho’s death. Recent days have seen dozens of casualties among both military personnel and cartel members, underscoring the volatile security situation. A source familiar with Crenshaw’s plans indicated he has been coordinating with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to bring similar cartel-focused legislation up for consideration in the near future.
The death of El Mencho marks a significant development in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking organizations that have contributed substantially to the opioid crisis in the United States. CJNG has been responsible for trafficking large quantities of fentanyl across the U.S.-Mexico border, fueling addiction and overdose deaths throughout America.
Crenshaw expressed optimism about current collaborative efforts, noting, “We finally have a solid partner in the Mexican government to work with. We are finally focusing huge intelligence collection efforts on the cartels (due in large part to my amendment to FISA two years ago authorizing collection on the cartels).”
The congressman’s proposed approach represents a shift from purely domestic enforcement to a more comprehensive strategy that addresses the source of drug trafficking at its origin. By providing resources directly to Mexican forces, Crenshaw believes the United States can more effectively disrupt the supply chains that bring deadly narcotics into American communities.
“We are finally taking them on,” Crenshaw concluded. “It won’t be over soon. But it’s about time we started.”
As the Biden administration transitions to the incoming Trump administration, questions remain about how U.S. policy toward Mexican cartels might evolve, particularly given Trump’s previous tough rhetoric on border security and drug trafficking organizations operating south of the border.
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15 Comments
Fentanyl is a scourge that is devastating families and communities. I hope the US and Mexico can work together effectively to cut off the cartels’ supply chains and disrupt their operations.
This is a disturbing development. The comparison to ISIS is very concerning – we need to take the threat of these cartels seriously and work to dismantle their operations through coordinated efforts.
Crenshaw’s assessment of the CJNG cartel as more like ISIS than a traditional mafia is very alarming. This is a threat that requires an urgent and coordinated response.
This is a complex and challenging issue, but it’s good to see lawmakers like Crenshaw taking a proactive approach. We need to understand the full scale of the threat these cartels pose.
The violent nature of these cartels is alarming. I hope the increased coordination between US and Mexican forces can make meaningful progress in disrupting their activities and reducing the harm they cause.
As a former SEAL, Crenshaw clearly has valuable insights on how to combat these cartel threats. I’m interested to see what specific policy proposals he puts forward.
The comparison to ISIS is chilling. We need to treat these cartel threats with the same level of seriousness and urgency as we do international terrorist groups.
Absolutely. These cartels pose a grave security risk that demands a robust and coordinated multinational response.
Fentanyl is an incredibly deadly drug, and the cartels trafficking it need to be shut down. I’m glad to see lawmakers like Crenshaw pushing for a stronger response.
The violent tactics of these cartels are truly horrifying. We need a comprehensive strategy to disrupt their operations and cut off the flow of deadly drugs into our communities.
As a former Navy SEAL, Crenshaw’s insights on the threat posed by the Mexican cartels carry a lot of weight. We need a multi-pronged strategy to address this challenge effectively.
The fentanyl crisis is devastating communities across the US. I hope the increased coordination between US and Mexican authorities can make a real dent in the cartels’ activities.
I’m glad to see Congressman Crenshaw taking this issue so seriously. Combating the drug cartels and the fentanyl crisis should be a top priority for US-Mexico cooperation.
The comparison to ISIS is quite alarming. These cartels pose a serious security threat that requires a robust and coordinated international response. I hope Congress can come together on this issue.
Agreed, the parallels to terrorist groups like ISIS are very concerning. Disrupting their operations needs to be a top priority.