WASHINGTON — Mexican drug cartels have reportedly launched a structured bounty system targeting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
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DHS said criminal networks are offering payments ranging from $2,000 for intelligence gathering to as much as $50,000 for the assassination of senior federal officials. The announcement follows federal charges filed two weeks ago against a member of the Chicago-based Latin Kings gang, accused of placing a bounty on a CBP commander overseeing operations in Los Angeles, Chicago and Portland.
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“These criminal networks are not just resisting the rule of law, they are waging an organized campaign of terror against the brave men and women who protect our borders and communities,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated.
According to DHS, cartels have disseminated a “structured bounty program” offering:
- $2,000 for doxing and surveillance of ICE/CBP officers,
- $5,000 to $10,000 for non-lethal assaults or kidnappings, and
- Up to $50,000 for assassinations of high-ranking officials.
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Cartel-affiliated gangs, including the Latin Kings, are said to have deployed armed “spotters” with radios to monitor and report the movements of federal agents in real time, according to DHS.
DHS maintains that threats against federal officers are escalating in both scale and sophistication, with incidents including drone surveillance, ambush attempts and explicit death threats. The agency has not disclosed operational changes but said it remains committed to protecting its personnel and enforcing federal immigration laws.
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