Mexican cartels 'green light' to open fire on US law enforcement after Trump order
Mexican cartels 'green light' to open fire on US law enforcement after Trump order
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Mexican cartels have received the green light to respond with prejudice to an anti-immigrant executive order issued by Donald Trump. The 47th US President used one of his hundreds of executive actions last week to declare cartel organisations foreign terrorist groups, a move meant to aid his administration's war against immigration on the southern border. While enthusiastically hailed by American conservatives, the order has also sparked controversy, with experts warning of splashback on US companies and possible retaliation.
Some of those predicted scenarios have now materialised just a week later, with cartels having engaged with US forces in cross-border skirmishes. The fighting follows reports that bosses have granted the "green light" for them to open fire on US federal officers in retaliation to the border crackdown.
Teader and founder of the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG), Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho", is said to be "preparing" the cartel to face up to Trump. The CJNG has reportedly armed itself with high-calibre weapons, among then RPG missile launches, since Trump's return to the White House was confirmed.
Cervantes, according to journalist and podcaster Anabel Hernández, plans to call a special meeting with his bosses that will instruct them on how to prepare for potential attacks by law enforcement, with the leader reportedly expecting "covert operations by the Trump administration".
Anna Giaritelli a reporter for the Washington Examiner, said on Monday she had received reports from law enforcement officials that cartel chiefs had granted the "green light" for cartels to engage the US on January 21, a day after Trump issued his executive order. She wrote on X, formerly Twitter : "Two LEO officials tell me that the Mexican cartels as of Jan 21 put a 'green light' to open fire on US federal law enforcement in retaliation for the border crackdown in Washington that Trump has waged.".
