Border czar Tom Homan issued a direct warning to cartel organizations on Tuesday, cautioning them against attacking American Border Patrol agents or soldiers stationed along the southern border.
His remarks come as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to combat cartel activity and illegal crossings.
President Donald Trump, on his first day back in office, signed an executive order officially classifying cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations.”
🚨 #BREAKING: President Trump has just signed an executive order designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations
They can now be targeted with LETHAL FORCE by the U.S. military.
This is HUGE. pic.twitter.com/WAf7HhKVAY
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 21, 2025
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The designation, he explained, is aimed at dismantling cartel networks that facilitate the smuggling of lethal narcotics, violent criminals, and gang members into the United States.
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Appearing on America’s Newsroom, Homan emphasized that the executive order grants the administration expanded authority to take decisive action against cartel operations, including targeting their finances.
“It gives us a lot of might, a lot of firepower to attack not only their infrastructure and their operations, but attack their money, take their money away,” Homan said.
“If you take their money away, they can’t bribe officials, they can’t bribe law enforcement.”
Homan defended Trump’s classification of cartels as terrorist organizations, highlighting their deadly impact.
“President Trump is serious and I agree with him 100% on the terrorist designation because of one reason: because they have killed more Americans than every terrorist organization in the world combined,” he said.
“Just like terrorist organizations, they’ve killed thousands of journalists, politicians, judges, prosecutors. So absolutely, it’s a game changer.”
Concerns over cartel-related violence escalated following an incident on January 27, when Border Patrol agents were fired upon in Fronton, Texas.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed the attack, and a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson identified the shooters as cartel members.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has ramped up immigration enforcement. On January 26, officials highlighted the arrest of an MS-13 gang member wanted for murder.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been conducting daily arrests at a pace far exceeding the averages recorded under former President Joe Biden.
Additionally, the violent Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua has established a foothold in the United States.
Under Biden’s administration, its influence expanded, with U.S. law enforcement agencies now working to crack down on the group’s activities.
On January 13, the Aurora Police Department in Colorado charged nine suspected Tren de Aragua members for allegedly carrying out a violent kidnapping and home invasion in December.
During the America’s Newsroom interview, host Dana Perino asked Homan how the cartels might respond as the Trump administration tightens border security and disrupts their fentanyl trafficking networks.
“Look, I’ve said for months, once we secure this border, which we’re pretty much there now, but once we secure the border and shut down their business, because if they can’t get the drugs across, if they can’t get the sex trafficking women and children across and the alien smuggling, I mean, they’re making more money right now than they’ve ever made,” Homan said.
He explained that the cartels are already engaged in violent turf wars over lucrative smuggling routes, and with Trump’s policies choking their revenue streams, the violence could intensify.
“That’s why the cartels of Mexico are having a war between themselves, trying to take control of each other’s plazas because there’s so much money involved,” he said.
Homan warned that any escalation of violence directed at U.S. personnel would be met with swift and overwhelming force.
“Once we secure the border and make it more difficult for them to make money, it’s going to become violent. You’re going to see violence on the border. And that’s unfortunate but we know it’s coming,” he said.
“Border Patrol is prepared. It’s great to have the military on the southern border, they’re prepared. It’d be a bad move on their part to harm any Border Patrol agent or soldier.”
He emphasized that the Trump administration is fully committed to responding forcefully if cartels attack U.S. personnel.
“Because I think President Trump will reply with great force. And I think he has the capability of wiping these cartels off the face of the earth if they harm our soldiers or Border Patrol agents. So word of advice: I wouldn’t go there,” he said.
In response to increasing pressure from the Trump administration, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Monday that her government will deploy 10,000 National Guard soldiers to the U.S.-Mexico border.
The move is aimed at assisting with efforts to curb drug smuggling and illegal immigration.
As Trump’s administration continues its border security efforts, the message remains clear: cartel violence will not be tolerated, and any attacks on U.S. personnel will be met with decisive action.
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