Abbott surges Texas Rangers and elite tactical items to frame as cartel violence spikes

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott introduced he's surging state troopers to the border and throughout the state to boost public security operations following a spike in cartel violence after the killing of kingpin "El Mencho" over the weekend.

On Monday, Abbott, a Republican, directed the Texas Division of Public Security (DPS) to "improve public security and homeland safety operations" throughout Texas. He mentioned the surge is in response to escalating cartel violence in Mexico that he believes poses a rising menace to American civilians.

"Mexican drug cartels pose a major menace to public security and nationwide safety," mentioned Abbott. "By growing proactive efforts to defend towards cartel violence, Texas will proceed to make the most of each software and technique to guard our state and our nation."

He vowed that within the face of elevated cartel violence, "We is not going to cower to criminals who impose terror on our fellow Texans and People."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott visiting the border with the Nationwide Guard in Eagle Go, Texas. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle through Getty Photos)

On the governor’s route, the state is surging Texas Freeway Patrol, Texas Rangers, Felony Investigations Division, and Particular Operations Group sources to the border area to "detect, interdict, and apprehend criminals, and to forestall spillover exercise from transnational threats."

Texas can also be growing its Tactical Marine Unit and Plane Operations Division presence alongside the border to detect and apprehend criminals. Additional, Texas is activating further personnel from its Homeland Safety Division and Texas Fusion Middle to observe social media and reviews of suspicious exercise 24/7.

This comes as cartel violence that erupted throughout Mexico left 25 Mexican Nationwide Guard troops and greater than two dozen felony suspects among the many useless following the killing of Jalisco New Technology (CJNG) cartel chief Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, who was often known as "El Mencho."

The cartel reacted to its chief's loss of life with violence across Mexico , putting roadblocks and setting autos on fireplace all through Sunday.

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A soldier stands guard by a charred car after it was set on fireplace in Cointzio, Michoacán state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, after the loss of life of the chief of the Jalisco New Technology Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, often known as "El Mencho." (AP Picture/Armando Solis) (AP Picture/Armando Solis)

A number of American vacationers vacationing in Puerto Vallarta , Mexico, additionally advised Fox Information Digital they unexpectedly discovered themselves in the course of a violent cartel retaliation. As airways canceled flights and authorities issued shelter-in-place orders, stranded guests reported vehicles set ablaze, suspected cartel members blocking main roads, and shops ransacked by looters — scenes some witnesses mentioned made components of the favored resort metropolis really feel like "a conflict breaking out within the streets."

Witnesses mentioned they have been compelled to evacuate their rooms, handle with restricted resort meals, and even enterprise exterior in quest of meals whereas ready for Mexican authorities to regain management of the town.

Staying at an Airbnb close to a important street, Eugene Marchenko, 37, of Charleston, South Carolina, advised Fox Information Digital he woke as much as blaring horns and noticed six vehicles fully engulfed in flames simply exterior his balcony. He and his spouse, who had arrived in Mexico solely a day earlier, have been compelled to evacuate for a number of hours, fearing {that a} close by gas tanker, additionally ablaze, might explode.

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<img src="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1200/675/mexico-smoke-el-mencho-killing.jpg?ve=1&tl=1" alt="Smoke billows from burning vehicles amid a wave of violence, with torched vehicles and gunmen blocking highways in more than half a dozen states, following a military operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho," was killed, in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026. " width="1200" height="675"/> Smoke billows from burning autos amid a wave of violence, with torched autos and gunmen blocking highways in additional than half a dozen states, following a navy operation wherein a authorities supply mentioned Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, often known as "El Mencho," was killed, in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026. (display seize obtained from a social media video. @morelifediares through Instagram/Youtube/through Reuters )

Abbott urged Texans in want of speedy help to name the U.S. Division of State or the Texas Fusion Middle, the state's major tactical intelligence hub.