Austin News

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, urging the Biden administration to address the threats of violence against U.S. Border Patrol agents. The letter comes in response to a text message discovered by El Paso Sector Intelligence, which solicited personal information of Border Patrol agents and their families. The message specifically mentioned using this information to find and torture the agents, with the intention of posting the torture online.

In the letter, Sen. Cruz expressed his concern about the escalating violence and the failure of leadership at the border. He highlighted the increasing profits of the cartels, stating that "Cartels have increased their yearly human smuggling profits twenty-six-fold since 2018, going from $500 million to $13 billion in a few short years." He emphasized that this crisis has had significant downstream effects, including the influx of fentanyl and the release of millions of illegal aliens into the interior of the country.

Sen. Cruz also referred to the recent safety alert issued by Border Patrol, which warned agents about the text message soliciting personal information. He criticized the cartels for being emboldened by the lack of leadership at the border and suggested that the violence against law enforcement and public officials, which has long plagued Mexico, is now gaining a foothold in the United States.

The letter contains four specific questions for Secretary Mayorkas to address by November 15, 2023. These questions focus on the arrests and referrals related to threats against agents, the resources available to agents and their families for protection, the collaboration with other law enforcement agencies to address organized crime groups, and the adjustments in the approach to border security considering the exploitation by cartels.

Sen. Cruz concluded the letter by holding Secretary Mayorkas accountable for the crisis and its consequences. He stated, "If you cannot protect the Agents tasked with safeguarding the American people, you should resign."

It remains to be seen how Secretary Mayorkas will respond to the demands made by Sen. Cruz. The issue of threats against Border Patrol agents is a serious concern that requires immediate attention and action from the Biden administration.

Click this link to access more information: https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-sends-letter-demanding-secretary-mayorkas-address-threats-of-violence-against-us-border-patrol-agents