(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) Suspected cartel members assaulted and kidnapped four Americans on Friday in a small Mexican town near the southern Texas border, in what critics blasted as the latest example of the violence and chaos that has erupted under the Biden administration’s failing immigration and border policies.
The four Americans were traveling to Mexico for medical care and came under deadly gunfire when they crossed the border, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico. Heavily armed men proceeded to assault and kidnap the four Americans, throwing them into the back of a pickup truck.
The FBI issued “a reward of $50,000 for the return of the victims and the arrest of those involved,” in a move that was blasted as the administration essentially paying ransom money to cartels and clear evidence of the lethal danger coming from Biden’s border.
“Enough is enough,” Robby Starbuck wrote. “If our government cares they’ll designate the cartels as terrorist groups and dismantle them with or without the help of the Mexican government.”
In addition to the FBI’s $50,000 reward, the Biden administration’s State Department issued a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory for U.S. citizens in Tamaulipas, citing concerns over crime and kidnapping.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the Biden was aware of the situation and the administration was “closely following” developments, while continuing to coordinate with Mexican officials and “push them to bring those responsible to justice.”
Border security realists ripped the administration’s tepid response after “Mexican cartels just declared war on U.S. citizens,” wrote conservative pundit Mark Levine.
“If Joe Biden can trade the ‘Merchant of Death’ for Britteny (sic) Griner, he better be focusing on these four Americans ASAP,” Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs said.
The rebuke was bipartisan, with Texas Democrat Rep. Vicente Gonzalez noting that similar kidnappings have become common near the border.
“We need to recognize that this is really just the tip of the iceberg and this is not an isolated incident,” Gonzalez said about the kidnapped Americans. “This happens all the time.”
