The tragic demise of a Texas rancher near Brownsville has prompted Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller to issue a stark warning about the escalating dangers faced by those living and working in the Rio Grande Valley.
The incident, involving the death of a U.S. citizen and Texas rancher due to an improvised explosive device (IED), underscores the increasing peril posed by cartel activities along the southern border.
"A tragic and alarming incident occurred near Brownsville, Texas, where a U.S. citizen and Texas rancher was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED)," Miller stated on the Texas Department of Agriculture's website. He emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting, "This shocking act of violence highlights the growing threat posed by cartel activity along our southern border."
According to the Western Journal, the regional agribusiness community, which spans both sides of the border, is urged to remain vigilant. Miller advised, "I urge all Texas farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers who travel to Mexico or operate near the border to exercise extreme caution." He highlighted the significance of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) to Texas agriculture and stressed the importance of safeguarding the agricultural community. "We cannot overlook the rising violence that threatens not only lives but also the security of our farms, ranches, and rural communities," he added.
Miller called for heightened awareness and precautionary measures among those in the agricultural sector. He recommended avoiding dirt roads and remote areas, steering clear of unfamiliar objects that could be explosive devices, limiting travel to daylight hours, sticking to main roads, and avoiding cartel-controlled regions. "Our agriculture family is the backbone of Texas, and we must do everything we can to protect it," he asserted.
The incident that prompted Miller's warning occurred earlier this month when Antonio Cspedes Saldierna, a 74-year-old rancher from Brownsville, inadvertently triggered an IED while driving his truck on his ranch in San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico, as reported by KFDM-TV. Tragically, Horacio Lopez Pea, who was also in the vehicle, lost his life, while his wife, Ninfa Griselda Ortega, sustained injuries and was hospitalized.
Ramiro Cspedes, the son of the deceased rancher, expressed his grief and disbelief, stating, "I'm sad, I'm confused, I'm in shock," according to KRGV-TV. Cspedes Saldierna, an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, had previously survived an IED blast during his military service. Reflecting on the incident, he remarked, "I consider this a terrorist attack because if I went to war to fight terrorists, and I'm seeing the same thing here to me my personal opinion it is a terrorist attack."
Mexican authorities have indicated that cartels employ IEDs as a means to deter rivals from encroaching on their territory. The growing threat of cartel violence poses a significant challenge to the safety and security of those living and working near the border, necessitating increased vigilance and precautionary measures to protect the agricultural community and its vital contributions to the state's economy.
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