The notorious Latin Kings street gang has reportedly issued a "shoot on sight" directive against Border Patrol agents involved in Operation Midway Blitz, escalating the already tense situation at the border.
This alarming development has prompted an internal memo from Customs and Border Protection, urging officers and agents to maintain heightened situational awareness and exercise extreme caution during enforcement activities, as reported by The Hill.
According to a representative from the Department of Homeland Security, the threats against law enforcement have skyrocketed by a staggering 8,000 percent. "Our law enforcement is now facing an 8,000 percent increase in death threats against them while they risk their lives every single day to remove the worst of the worst," the representative stated.
This surge in threats is not isolated to the border, with incidents of violence, assaults, and smears against officers being reported almost daily in Chicago. "Nearly every day, we have seen violence, assaults, or smears against our officers in Chicago, including yesterday when agents vehicles were rammed multiple times and shots fired at them," the representative added.
These brave men and women, who are merely enforcing the rule of law, are now under constant threat. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, in a conversation with Fox News, expressed her disappointment with the Democratic Party's stance on the issue. "It really is a shame that the Democrat Party has decided that violence against law enforcement is OK," she said.
This alert was issued in the wake of an incident involving an illegal immigrant who was arrested in connection with shots fired at Border Patrol agents. "This individual should have never been walking the streets of Chicago," stated Customs and Border Protection Chief Patrol Agent Greg Bovino. "This individual should not have been in this country, so the fact that he has re-violated again and still has a firearm is very concerning to us in law enforcement."
In a related development, a Latin Kings leader was arrested last month for allegedly placing a bounty on Agent Bovino. The accused, Juan Espinoza Martinez, was apprehended three days after he allegedly ordered a "hit" on Bovino, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Evidence of his involvement was found in a Snapchat conversation where a user named 'Juan' appeared to offer a $2,000 bounty for information on Bovino's whereabouts and a $10,000 reward for his capture.
"Depraved individuals like Juan Espinoza Martinez who do not value human life and threaten law enforcement do NOT belong in this country. We will not allow criminal gangs to put hits on U.S. government officials and our law enforcement officers," McLaughlin said. She further emphasized that Secretary Kristi Noem has made it clear that any threats or attacks on law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Martinez is now facing one count of murder-for-hire, as per the Department of Justice. The complaint against him included a photo of the target and messages about taking down the official. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche expressed his outrage at this blatant attack on the rule of law. "Placing a bounty on the head of a federal officer is an attack on the rule of law and on every American who depends on law enforcement to keep them safe," he said.
The Department of Justice is committed to taking back every neighborhood and street corner from violent thugs and criminal gangs, and returning them to the law-abiding members of our communities. This case serves as a stark reminder of the threats that those who protect our borders and communities face, and the Department's unwavering resolve to never allow violent gangs or criminal networks to target them.
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