Thread: Texan warns Obama: Mexican cartels 'spilling over' border

Texan warns Obama: Mexican cartels 'spilling over' border

November 2, 2011 | 4:25pm

Texas Atty. Gen. Greg Abbott sent a letter to President Obama on Wednesday warning that Mexican cartel violence is increasingly "spilling over" the border and calling for more security.

Abbott cited a "deadly shootout" involving "cartel operatives" last weekend in the town of Elsa, about 250 miles south of San Antonio, in which a Hidalgo County sheriff's deputy was shot three times. Sheriff's officials have said the deputy was wearing a protective vest and is expected to recover.

Two suspects were charged Wednesday in connection with the attempted drug deal and kidnapping, a contract job to recover a lost load of marijuana for the Gulf Cartel, according to a KRGV-Rio Grande Valley interview with Hidalgo Sheriff Lupe Trevino. Carlos Zavala and Carlos Juan Hernandez were charged with three counts of aggravated kidnapping and two counts of criminal attempted capital murder.

"Thankfully the officer survived, but the Hidalgo County Sheriff confirmed that the shooting spilled over from ongoing drug wars involving the Gulf Cartel in Mexico," Abbott said, noting the shooting was not an isolated incident.

During the last two weeks, he said, three "high-level cartel leaders" have been arrested while hiding in Texas.

Last week, Border Patrol agents arrested Eudoxio Ramos Garcia, 34, the Gulf Cartel's former plaza boss, or regional commander, in Rio Grande City, according to a newspaper in the border town of McAllen, The Monitor. Ramos had been in Texas only a few days at the time of his arrest and had paid $500 to cross the border illegally because his visa had expired.
The day before Ramos' arrest, agents near Santa Maria arrested Jose Luis Zuniga Hernandez, "Comandante Wicho," on a weapons charge, believing he was at one point the plaza boss for Matamoros, across the Rio Grande from the Texas border town of Brownsville, according to The Monitor.

The monitor also reported that on Oct. 20, ICE agents arrested Rafael “El Juniorâ€

Dear Greg,

I appreate your concern and I know folks think they are hurting. I tell my wife every time I come home from my weekly trips eating $30,000 a plate lunches and hanging with the folks. I had considered coming to Texas to see the folks down there , Jannie tells me the border is safer than it ever has been. I really have to take her word for it , I know she would not lie to me and I have great confidence in her.
I really have a full schedule, what with all this campagning and all , Executive orders to make up and sign , and as you know I also have to make time to hit the links. I have faith that you have the situation in hand .I will be tied up until after the election meeting and eating with the folks and what not. Keep in touch and send me some BBQ wings if you get a chance. Keep up the good work
Your Friend, Barak