
Cartel violence at the U.S.-Mexico border is intensifying, leading the U.S. consulate to issue a heightened travel warning for Americans. Tamaulipas, a state just across from Texas, has seen a surge in shootings, kidnappings and bombings, prompting a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” alert. Officials warn that the ability to assist U.S. citizens caught in the violence is extremely limited.
As cartels tighten their grip, attacks are spilling over into American territory. In California, a group of hikers in the Jacumba Mountains came under fire near the Moon Valley Trailhead. A suspected cartel gunman shot one hiker before fleeing back across the border. The victim was flown to a hospital, highlighting the growing risk even for those on U.S. soil.
While the US accelerates deportations of people into Mexico's violent border state of Tamaulipas, the US consulate in Matamoros issues a travel warning, citing "increasingly frequent gun battles" and Iraq war-style "improvised explosive devices."https://t.co/DN2ehAQeh4 pic.twitter.com/bj2YFAkQSR
— Adam Isacson (@adam_wola) January 28, 2025
Texas has also seen its share of violence, with a shootout with cartel members erupting in Fronton. Gunmen fired on Border Patrol agents from across the Rio Grande, forcing agents to return fire while calling for reinforcements. The attack is yet another example of cartel operatives growing bolder in challenging U.S. law enforcement directly.
The U.S. State Department has issued the highest-level travel warning for some Mexican towns next to the U.S.–Mexico border due to elevated risks over kidnappings, gun battles, and improvised explosives devices (IEDs).
A bulletin released by the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in…
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) January 28, 2025
Adding to the crisis, authorities in Tamaulipas have discovered explosive devices planted along roadways. Flyers posted in Spanish warn residents and travelers not to touch unfamiliar objects, as cartel tactics now mirror those seen in war zones. Security experts fear these attacks could escalate further, making travel even more dangerous.
We need to get all our people out of Mexico and start moving personnel and gear down to the border in prep for war.
Time to stop playing!US consulate warns of gun battles, IEDs, kidnappings in Mexican border towns near Texashttps://t.co/djaEJBmJWx
— 🍊Big Maga Dave🍊 (@daverich503) January 28, 2025
Meanwhile, Mexico’s internal security continues to deteriorate. The last election cycle saw an alarming number of political assassinations, raising questions about how much influence cartels hold over the country’s leadership. With government officials being eliminated at an unprecedented rate, criminal organizations appear to be dictating the political landscape.
🚨Alert: War with Mexican Cartels is Coming!! United States Consulate General in Matamoros has issued Level 4 Alert – Do Not Travel in the following locations: Reynosa, Rio Bravo, Valle Hermoso, San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico” @USCGMatamoros
The report also highlights… pic.twitter.com/VR7w6zhc9A
— US Homeland Security News (@defense_civil25) January 28, 2025
The crisis is growing more dire by the day. As American communities suffer from cartel-driven crime, drugs and violence, the situation at the border is no longer just a foreign policy issue — it’s a national security emergency.