Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller issued a statement on Tuesday confirming that rancher Antonio Céspedes Saldierna, 74, was killed when the truck he was driving struck an improvised explosive device (IED) in Brownsville, Texas. The explosive device, reportedly planted by cartel members, also took the life of Horacio Lopez Pena. Lopez’s wife, Ninfa Griselda Ortega, sustained severe injuries and is hospitalized.
In the statement, Miller called for increased vigilance among Texas farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers, especially those operating near the border or traveling to Mexico. He advised avoiding dirt roads, remaining on main roads, traveling during daylight, and steering clear of known cartel-controlled areas.
The tragedy draws attention to the escalating violence at the border, which has disrupted not only individual lives but also the security of Texas’s agriculture industry. Miller stressed the importance of the Lower Rio Grande Valley to the state’s agricultural output and reiterated the need for heightened security measures.
President Donald J. Trump has designated several cartels “foreign terrorist organizations,” potentially allowing for military action against them. The America First leader has also successfully pressured the Canadian government into designating the cartels as terrorist groups, after threatening them with tariffs.
In Mexico, where the cartels wield enormous influence, progress has been more mixed. America’s southern neighbor has agreed that U.S. special forces will train Mexican personnel to better combat the cartels. Still, far-left President Claudia Sheinbaum is warning the U.S. not to take actions that might undermine Mexican sovereignty.
