Texas Deploys Additional Troopers to Border Amid Violence Following Cartel Leader’s Death

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered a surge of state troopers to the border and across Texas following escalating cartel violence in Mexico that authorities fear could spill over into the United States. The directive comes in the wake of the killing of notorious drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” which triggered violent retaliations by the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

“Mexican drug cartels pose a significant threat to public safety and national security,” Abbott said in his announcement on Monday. “By increasing proactive efforts to defend against cartel violence, Texas will continue to utilize every tool and strategy to protect our state and our nation.”

The Republican governor emphasized the state’s resolve in confronting organized crime, stating, “We will not cower to criminals who impose terror on our fellow Texans and Americans.”

Under Abbott’s orders, the Texas Department of Public Safety will deploy additional Texas Highway Patrol officers, Texas Rangers, Criminal Investigations Division personnel, and Special Operations Group resources to the border region. These forces will work to “detect, interdict, and apprehend criminals, and to prevent spillover activity from transnational threats,” according to the governor’s office.

The state is also bolstering its maritime and aerial surveillance capabilities, increasing its Tactical Marine Unit and Aircraft Operations Division presence along the border. Additionally, Texas has activated extra personnel from its Homeland Security Division and Texas Fusion Center to provide round-the-clock monitoring of social media and suspicious activity reports.

The security enhancement follows a weekend of chaos in Mexico that left 25 Mexican National Guard troops and more than two dozen criminal suspects dead after the killing of El Mencho, who had led the CJNG, one of Mexico’s most violent and powerful criminal organizations. The cartel’s retaliation was swift and widespread, with members establishing roadblocks and setting vehicles ablaze throughout Mexico on Sunday.

The violence particularly affected tourist destinations like Puerto Vallarta, where American visitors found themselves caught in dangerous situations. Multiple tourists reported to Fox News Digital that they witnessed cars set on fire, roads blocked by suspected cartel members, and stores being looted. As airlines canceled flights and authorities issued shelter-in-place orders, many visitors were stranded.

Eugene Marchenko, a 37-year-old tourist from Charleston, South Carolina, described waking up to the sound of blaring horns and seeing six cars completely engulfed in flames outside his Airbnb balcony. He and his wife, who had arrived in Mexico just a day earlier, were forced to evacuate for several hours due to fears that a nearby burning fuel tanker might explode.

Other tourists reported being evacuated from their accommodations, dealing with limited food supplies at hotels, and having to venture out amid the chaos to find meals while waiting for Mexican authorities to regain control.

The CJNG has grown into one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations over the past decade, controlling territory across much of western and central Mexico. Security experts have long warned about the group’s exceptional brutality and sophisticated military-style tactics, which have included downing military helicopters and assassinating high-ranking officials.

Governor Abbott urged Texans in need of immediate assistance to contact the U.S. Department of State or the Texas Fusion Center, which serves as the state’s primary tactical intelligence hub. He noted that Texas is “closely coordinating” with the State Department and FBI as the situation continues to develop.

The border security enhancement represents the latest move in Abbott’s ongoing efforts to address what he describes as federal inaction on border security. Texas has previously deployed thousands of National Guard troops to the border and implemented controversial measures including the installation of razor wire barriers along portions of the Rio Grande.