<p>Federal law enforcement authorities have identified a potential plot by a Mexican cartel to kidnap federal law enforcement officers in western Texas, according to three employees at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The notification was confirmed on Wednesday.</p>
<p>CBP employees were informed that a specific smuggler intended to transport individuals from Colombia and Venezuela into the United States to target CBP personnel in the El Paso and Presidio areas, as first reported by NewsNation on Tuesday evening.</p>
<p>CBP stated that it is actively gathering information on individuals and groups that pose a threat to the United States. In a statement, CBP said, "CBP maintains proactive intelligence on all foreign actors that are a threat to the homeland. All relevant information is diligently vetted with appropriate partners to determine validity. The specific tactics, procedures, and methods CBP uses to mitigate these threats and ensure the safety of CBP personnel and equities is robust. CBP does not comment on these methods to ensure the continued safety of our interests and the American Homeland."</p>
<p>Border Patrol agents operate between ports of entry where vehicles and pedestrians cross, while CBP’s Office of Field Operations is based at these ports.</p>
<p>Threats related to cartels are not uncommon; however, increased pressure from the Trump administration on Mexico to prevent migrants from crossing into the U.S. has led to heightened violence as cross-border crime rings experience significant financial losses in human smuggling.</p>
<p>In October of the previous year, federal law enforcement officials discovered that a Mexican individual had placed bounties on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel during a months-long enforcement operation in Chicago.</p>
<p>The Department of Homeland Security shared information from the Drug Enforcement Administration regarding gangs in Chicago’s southwest neighborhoods that were offering bounties ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 for the assassination of ICE employees.</p>
<p>In late September, Coast Guard personnel in southeast Texas reported being shot at from the Mexican side of the Rio Grande while attempting to intercept illegal immigrants. The Coast Guard returned fire during the incident.</p>
<p>Following this event, the government deployed 500 troops to the Rio Grande Valley.</p>