An illegal immigrant will spend 20 years in prison after admitting to murdering a beloved Nashville restaurant owner. 
Ulises Martinez, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico, pleaded <a href="https://sci.ccc.nashville.gov/Search/CriminalHistory?P_CASE_IDENTIFIER=ULISES%5EMARTINEZ%5E09131999%5E624024">guilty</a> on Wednesday to second-degree murder after he slammed his truck into 42-year-old Matt Carney during an attempted robbery two years ago. The case drew national attention as President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-decries-vicious-illegal-immigrant-suspected-of-murdering-nashville-restaurant-owner?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Decries+%E2%80%98Vicious%E2%80%99+Illegal+Immigrant+Suspected+Of+Murdering+Nashville+Restaurant+Owner">pointed to it</a> as an example of a migrant crime wave during his 2024 presidential campaign.
The incident took place on June 19, 2024, outside of Smokin Thighs, a popular Nashville chicken restaurant owned and operated by Carney that began as a food truck. Carney was locking up his restaurant when he walked outside to find two men stealing tools from his truck. After Carney confronted them, the men, both illegal immigrants, rammed into Carney with their truck, throwing him onto the sidewalk, before taking off. 
Olivia Lehing, who witnessed the scene, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/illegal-immigrant-confesses-to-killing-nashville-man-in-hit-and-run">said</a> she was driving when she saw a truck send a body “into the air” and then drive “very fast” away from the scene
Carney died from injuries sustained during the incident several weeks later. Martinez was on the run for several weeks before he was arrested on July 18, hiding out in a Nashville motel. 
Smokin Thighs closed down in October 2024 after almost ten years in business. 
“Places like this do not just exist everywhere and in every neighborhood,” former Smokin Thighs manager Landon Allen <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2026/07/22/nashville-smokin-thighs-matthew-carney-murder-guilty-sentence">told</a> The Tennessean. “When he was taken from us, it all died with him.”
In addition to the murder charge, Martinez pleaded guilty to evidence tampering and two counts of theft. Martinez, who required an interpreter throughout the proceedings, is expected to be deported after serving the 20-year sentence. Carney’s widow reportedly supported the plea deal. 
Martinez’s immigration status was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/illegal-immigrant-accused-of-killing-nashville-restaurant-owner-had-previous-felony-charges-dismissed">first reported</a> by The Daily Wire, with ICE saying that he unlawfully entered the country at an unknown date and location. The other man in the vehicle with Martinez, 31-year-old Adrian Diaz-Aguirre, had previous criminal convictions and has been deported four times.
Just months before Carney’s murder, a Nashville judge <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/illegal-immigrant-accused-of-killing-nashville-restaurant-owner-had-previous-felony-charges-dismissed">let Martinez go</a> free after he was accused of stealing a white van, a red truck, and tools from a white truck.
Nashville Judge Jim Todd dismissed all three charges during a preliminary hearing in March 2024, claiming police had failed to show probable cause. 
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-decries-vicious-illegal-immigrant-suspected-of-murdering-nashville-restaurant-owner?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Decries+%E2%80%98Vicious%E2%80%99+Illegal+Immigrant+Suspected+Of+Murdering+Nashville+Restaurant+Owner">discussed</a> the incident during an August campaign rally in Montana. 
“Look at what’s happening to our cities. Our cities are being overrun,” Trump said. “On July 4th, a 42-year-old Nashville man died after he tried to stop an illegal alien from stealing tools out of his truck. The illegal alien did a number on this man that nobody could even believe. The police officers said [it was] one of the most vicious crimes they’ve ever seen.”

MixCollage-23-Jul-2026-09-31-AM-2313

Illegal Who Murdered Beloved Restaurant Owner Sentenced To Prison

Crime

Donald Trump

Illegal Immigation

Mexico

Murder

Nashville

Tennessee

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum promised Thursday to pursue “legal measures” against the United States following the fatal shooting of a Mexican national by an ICE agent in Houston, saying her government &#8220;cannot permit the mistreatment of our brothers&#8221; living in the U.S. 
She said Mexico&#8217;s response would “go beyond&#8221; a diplomatic protest, saying officials &#8220;are preparing measures&#8221; over the shooting and the deaths of other Mexican nationals while in ICE custody.
&#8220;We cannot turn a blind eye to the Mexicans who have died,&#8221; Sheinbaum said, adding, &#8220;Especially to Mexicans whose only crime is working honestly in the United States.&#8221;
Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco said the Mexican government will be requesting that the incidents be investigated as criminal matters. Velasco added that the government will also file civil lawsuits against private companies operating in the immigration detention centers in the United States.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old construction worker and father of three, was shot and killed Tuesday during an encounter with ICE agents in Houston after picking up members of his work crew. 
Araujo’s family <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/09/us/lorenzo-salgado-araujo-houston-ice-shooting">told</a> CNN they believe he would have complied with federal agents had the unmarked SUV they were in been clearly identified as law enforcement. 
The Department of Homeland Security disputed that account, telling The Daily Wire that Araujo “attempted to evade arrest” and “weaponized his vehicle&#8221; by attempting to run over an ICE agent, who fired in self-defense. 
Araujo was <a href="https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/07/08/mexican-president-vows-legal-action-against-us-after-ices-shooting-death-of-lorenzo-salgado-araujo-in-houston/">reportedly</a> shot on the right side of his body. He had resided in the United States without legal status for roughly 35 years. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
The family of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo is calling for an independent investigation after Araujo, a Mexican national who the family says has lived in the U.S. for more than 30 years, was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Houston on Tuesday. More:… <a href="https://t.co/eGij94wYSz">pic.twitter.com/eGij94wYSz</a>
— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) <a href="https://x.com/ABC7NY/status/2075237326544887862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
The shooting sparked protests in Houston, where demonstrators called for an independent investigation.
The Department of Homeland Security <a href="https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/houston-ice-shooting-video-22339108.php">confirmed</a> Thursday that the ICE agents involved were not wearing body cameras.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
More than a thousand protesters chanting ‘ICE out of Houston’ marched near the spot where a US ICE officer fatally shot a man driving to work, the latest in a spate of lethal encounters from increasing deportation raids nationwide <a href="https://t.co/bkQqeJQuuY">https://t.co/bkQqeJQuuY</a> <a href="https://t.co/GApbuTXDoj">pic.twitter.com/GApbuTXDoj</a>
— Reuters (@Reuters) <a href="https://x.com/Reuters/status/2075137883241922840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Claudia Sheinbaum

Mexico’s Response To Fatal ICE Shooting Takes Unexpected Turn

Houston

Immigrants

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Texas

A South Texas hospital that placed billboards in Mexico advertising &#8220;birth packages in South Texas&#8221; is now at the center of a state investigation for facilitating &#8220;birth tourism.&#8221;
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott instructed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to launch an investigation into Mission Regional Medical Center on Tuesday over allegations that the hospital profited from the abuse of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/supreme-court-rules-against-trump-in-birthright-citizenship-case">birthright citizenship</a> in the United States. Viral images circulating on social media showed the billboards offering &#8220;birth packages&#8221; of up to $5,525 through a website named &#8220;havemybabyinTEXAS.com.&#8221;
The webpage quietly went offline just hours before Abbott&#8217;s announcement, <a href="https://www.chron.com/news/article/birth-tourism-abbott-texas-billboard-22336058.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Chron.com.
Mission Regional Medical Center confirmed that it was responsible for the billboards, which were written in both English and Spanish, Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/abbott-orders-probe-texas-hospital-advertises-birth-packages-mexico-citizenship-not-sale" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
“Birth tourism is an illegal practice that exploits the extraordinary hospitality that the United States and Texas offer to millions of foreign travelers each year,&#8221; Abbott said. &#8220;Thousands of foreign travelers come to the United States under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their children.&#8221;
&#8220;HHSC must investigate the hospital, a facility it regulates, for any violations of state law and contractual obligations,&#8221; Abbott added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Texas will not permit the exploitation of its healthcare system or its citizenship laws.
Governor Abbott will fight birth tourism and hold accountable any hospital or facility that profits from it. <a href="https://t.co/58p1FHb1Iy">https://t.co/58p1FHb1Iy</a>
— Governor Hot Wheels (@GovHotWheels_TX) <a href="https://x.com/GovHotWheels_TX/status/2074866790052606402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The medical facility said it was merely sharing information about healthcare services it provides, &#8220;like hospitals across the country&#8221; and denied facilitating &#8220;any unlawful activity.&#8221; The center also said it no longer uses the &#8220;marketing materials &#8230; due to any unintended misunderstanding.&#8221;
&#8220;Mission Regional Medical Center is committed to providing high-quality, compassionate healthcare and expanding access to care for the communities we serve,&#8221; the medical center said in a statement. &#8220;Like hospitals across the country and throughout the region, we share information about the healthcare services we provide.&#8221;
&#8220;We do not support or facilitate any unlawful activity and work to comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations. The marketing materials regarding maternity services are no longer in use due to any unintended misunderstanding. We intend to work cooperatively and transparently with local and state officials. Our focus remains on delivering safe, high-quality care to every patient who seeks our services,&#8221; the hospital added.
The since-deleted website shared testimonials from women, including one from Mexico City, sharing their positive maternity experiences, according to Chron.com.
One of the hospital&#8217;s previous Instagram posts advertised: &#8220;Are you pregnant, living abroad, and looking to welcome your baby in South Texas? Look no further!&#8221; the outlet reported.
President Donald Trump attempted to overturn birthright citizenship, an effort that the Supreme Court ruled against last month.
Foreign nationals have long abused birthright citizenship and have even erected birthing centers in the United States to help produce American babies en masse.
One of those centers is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-are-chinese-birth-centers-hiding-in-your-backyard-we-went-to-find-out">De’Ai Postpartum Care Center in Houston</a>, which Texas sued for allegedly “exploiting birthright citizenship by unlawfully facilitating the invasion of Chinese nationals … for the sole purpose of giving birth.” The clinic has boasted facilitating 1,000 births.
The Daily Wire previously visited homes allegedly used by the center to house pregnant Chinese women. Only one person answered the door: Lai Wan Lin-Chan, who was named as a defendant in the lawsuit and refused to answer questions.

Untitled design – 2026-07-08T131044.948

Hospital Placed Billboards In Mexico Advertising Texas ‘Birth Packages,’ Prompting ‘Birth Tourism’ Probe

birth tourism

birthright citizenship

Greg Abbott

A Mexican national pleaded guilty to smuggling thousands of illegal immigrants into the United States, including from heavily Islamic countries with links to terrorism. 
Efrain Zuniga-Garcia admitted Monday in federal court to participating in a “vast” scheme to sneak up to 3,000 foreign nationals into America, including from countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Yemen, the Justice Department said. The 38-year-old Zuniga-Garcia was involved in the scheme from November 2020 until September 2023, when he was first charged.  
The smuggling network operated stash houses in Monterrey, Mexico, and Piedras Negras, Mexico, and brought in between 2,500 and 3,000 illegal immigrants. The network also smuggled in foreign nationals from India, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, and Ecuador.
The scheme operated at the same time that Border Patrol agents encountered a shocking spike in individuals on the terror watchlist along the porous border that former President Joe Biden oversaw.
Zuniga-Garcia ran the Monterrey stash house where he coordinated the transportation of the illegals by turning them over to “coyotes” who would bring them across the Rio Grande and into the United States, according to the Justice Department. 
He was charged in September 2023 with conspiracy to bring an alien into the United States and three counts of bringing an alien into the United States for financial benefit. Zuniga-Garcia pled guilty to both counts and faces a mandatory minimum of three years in prison upon sentencing. 
Multiple of Zuniga-Garcia’s co-defendants have already been sentenced to prison, including Enil Edil Mejia-Zuniga and Monica Hernandez-Palma. Mejia-Zuniga, an illegal from Honduras who lived in San Antonio, Texas, was <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/illegal-alien-honduras-sentenced-prison-vast-alien-smuggling-conspiracy">sentenced</a> to 10 years in prison in July 2025 after being convicted of directing the operation. 
“In an effort to satisfy his greed, Mejia-Zuniga facilitated the illegal movement of thousands of Middle Easterners into the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons for the Western District of Texas at the time. “His actions put our national security at risk.”
Lawmakers have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/on-9-11-republicans-warn-about-lingering-danger-from-bidens-open-border-policies?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=On+9%2F11%2C+Republicans+Warn+About+Lingering+Danger+From+Biden’s+‘Open-Border+Policies’">warned</a> that Americans could still be facing security challenges after the flood of illegal immigrants during the Biden presidency. The House Homeland Security Committee found that from the start of fiscal year 2021 to the end of Biden’s presidency, Border Patrol agents encountered around 400 individuals on the terror watchlist at the border. From 2017 to 2020, only 14 individuals on the terror watchlist were apprehended at the border, <a href="https://homeland.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/December-24-SS.pdf">according</a> to the committee. During that same time, at least two million illegals who were known “gotaways” entered the country.

Yuma Arizona Border Crossing

Feds Unravel Mexican’s Scheme To Smuggle Middle Easterners Into U.S.

Department of Justice

Middle East

Radical Islamic Terror

Mexican authorities are searching for a mysterious vigilante dubbed the “Batman of Lagos de Moreno” after several suspected motorcycle thieves were found bound to lampposts. 
Jalisco State Security Secretary Juan Pablo Hernández said police discovered five men duct-taped to lampposts, the Sun <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/39573349/mysterious-vigilante-dubbed-mexican-batman/?utm_medium=Social&amp;utm_campaign=sunmainfacebook&amp;utm_source=Facebook&amp;fbclid=IwZnRzaASudWJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeiIbP4DqZXI8q8BNsNRknleGcA_Pj8VB7KO-s-u7O6uR2Sm1SeUV4YtUK7VE_aem_ub0H-0t9uOGDUmrB6uSqpg#Echobox=1782676251">reported</a>. Some were gagged or showed signs of being beaten. Several had pink signs placed above their heads detailing their alleged crimes, while others had mustaches, cat ears, or the word “ratero,” Spanish for &#8220;thief,&#8221; scribbled on them in marker. In some cases, stolen motorcycles were left beside them.
“In Jalisco, after the lack of help from the authorities, an anonymous hero started hunting down motorcycle thieves,” Mexican reporter Luis Cardenas said in his viral post. “So far, he&#8217;s already taken down five in ten days, and they call him the ‘Batman of Lagos de Moreno’.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 En Jalisco, tras la falta de ayuda por parte de las autoridades, un héroe anónimo empezó a cazar ladrones robamotos. Hasta el momento, ya lleva cinco en diez días y lo apodan el &#8216;Batman de Lagos de Moreno&#8217;. <a href="https://t.co/C1AJYqGIcO">pic.twitter.com/C1AJYqGIcO</a>
— LuisCardenasMX (@LuisCardenasMx) <a href="https://x.com/LuisCardenasMx/status/2069764950059372791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2026</a><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></blockquote>
Though no suspects have been arrested in connection with the incidents, officials said they are tracking two cars believed to be involved. Police are investigating the assaults on the bound men while also reviewing accusations that they were involved in motorcycle thefts.
Authorities have not said whether they believe a single person is acting alone or whether others may be involved. 
The unusual case has drawn attention as Mexico continues to fight organized crime, cartel violence, and to deal with police corruption.
Frustration with crime and distrust of law enforcement have fueled a rise in vigilantes in parts of Mexico. Earlier this year, armed women in the nearby state of Michocoán were reported patrolling their communities to protect residents from cartel violence. 
Motorcycle theft remains a recurring problem in the Altos Norte region of Jalisco, where Lagos de Moreno is located. The United States has <a href="https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/mexico.html">issued</a> a Level 3 crime warning for the state of Jalisco, advising Americans to “reconsider travel” in the area.

Screenshot 2026-06-29 at 4.00.57 PM

Authorities Hunt ‘Mexican Batman’ After Vigilante Justice

Corruption

Mexico opened the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over South Africa on Thursday in Mexico City, capitalizing on an early defensive mistake and a second-half red card.
Mexico’s Julián Quiñones scored the tournament&#8217;s first goal in the eighth minute after South Africa’s midfielder Sphephelo S’miso “Yaya” Sithole lost possession just outside the penalty area, allowing Mexico to take an early 1-0 lead. The mistake directly led to the first goal of the 2026 World Cup.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
MEXICO SCORES THE FIRST GOAL OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP 🇲🇽
It&#8217;s Julián Quiñones in the scoresheet! <a href="https://t.co/SnoP04ltFP">pic.twitter.com/SnoP04ltFP</a>
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSports/status/2065151323280990213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
South Africa prevented Mexico from adding to its advantage for the remainder of the first half, but the match swung further in Mexico&#8217;s favor shortly after halftime.
Sithole was shown a red card five minutes into the second half, the ejection reducing South Africa to 10 men for the remainder of the match. The turnover that led to Mexico&#8217;s opening goal and the early red card made Sithole a central figure in South Africa&#8217;s defeat.
Mexico eventually doubled its lead in the 67th minute when Raúl Jiménez scored on a header to give Mexico a 2-0 lead. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
South Africa is shown a red card and is down to 10 men! 🟥 <a href="https://t.co/HnPqExqTRq">pic.twitter.com/HnPqExqTRq</a>
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSports/status/2065167041250591001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The victory gives Mexico an early advantage in Group A, while South Africa will now look to rebound against Czechia next week. 
Sithole, who finished the opening game with three fouls and was ejected in the second half, will be suspended for South Africa&#8217;s next match on Thursday.

Mexico v South Africa: Group A – FIFA World Cup 2026

South African Sithole Has Nightmare Start To World Cup

South Africa

World Cup

A 30-year-old pregnant mother from Indiana was found dead in Mexico more than three months after she and her children were reported missing.
Makala Pendley was found dead earlier this week in a village in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, according to local officials. Pendley was six months pregnant when she disappeared with her seven children in February.
Her sister, Mauricia Lambert, said in a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/makala-pendley">GoFundMe</a> that Pendley was found “stabbed, raped, sodomized, naked, with her head bashed in.” Mexican authorities said Pendley died from traumatic brain injury caused by blunt-force trauma, according to local reports.
After identifying Pendley&#8217;s body, authorities began searching for her children, who were believed to have been with her, and for her partner, Joseph Jude Butler Jr., whom Mexican officials identified as a suspect in the case.
The children were later found in “good health” in the San Cristóbal de las Casas neighborhood, where they were immediately placed under government protection. Butler was arrested shortly after, as <a href="https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2026/06/11/makala-pendley-chiapas-state-prosecutor-jorge-luis-llaven-abarca-joseph-jude-butler-jr-arrest/90509380007/">announced</a> by Chiapas State Prosecutor Jorge Luis Llaven Abarca during a Facebook Live broadcast on Monday.
“In the coming hours, his criminal responsibility will be determined, and he may be brought before justice,” Llaven Abarca stated. “We will seek the maximum sentence of 100 years for this perpetrator of femicide.”
Just a few days prior, Llaven Abarca said authorities had found the body of a deceased woman in the Elambó Bajo area of Zinacantán.
“Based on the time of death, she had been at the location where she was found for between 8 and 12 hours,” he said on the broadcast just days before the identification of the body.
Pendley and her children were reported missing on February 25 after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children issued an alert. They were believed to have left Indianapolis and traveled to Mexico.
Pendley was found alive in Mexico last month after her sister told <a href="https://fox59.com/indiana-news/pregnant-indy-mom-found-murdered-in-mexico-her-missing-kids-found-safe/">FOX59</a> that she had fled there because she feared “her children would be taken away from her.” Authorities took custody of her children at the time before later releasing them back to Pendley.
During Monday&#8217;s broadcast, Mexican authorities said American officials informed them that Butler has a history of criminal activity. Llaven Abarca said Butler had an active warrant in Alaska and had previously been detained in the United States in connection with allegations including assault, robbery, fraud, illegal weapons possession, intimidation, and rape.
Butler and Pendley had been in an on-and-off “toxic relationship” since Pendley was 16, according to the Indianapolis Star. This includes a legal incident in August 2025 where Pendley claimed she was assaulted by Butler in Yucatan, Mexico.
Pendley’s body and her seven children are expected to be returned to Indianapolis.

Mexican Drug War Fuels Violence In Juarez

A Missing Family’s Nightmare Ends With A Grim Discovery

Indiana

World

A Mexican woman attempted to quietly move $272,000 across the Texas border and into Mexico, where authorities believe the massive cash load would have ended up in the hands of the cartels.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stopped a 46-year-old Mexican woman who was driving across the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge in Laredo, Texas, on her way into Mexico on April 21, the agency told The Daily Wire. The woman was referred for a routine inspection before officers scanned her 2017 Dodge Journey and discovered the unreported load of cash concealed in the floor of her car.
Officers quickly seized the cash and vehicle, while Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents arrested the driver, whose name was not released publicly.
Several Homeland Security sources working along the border told The Daily Wire that seizures of hidden bulk cash usually involve cartel funds.
Laredo Port Director Albert Flores said &#8220;bulk cash seizures like these&#8221; are &#8220;often proceeds from illicit activity&#8221; and &#8220;directly impact the pocketbook of foreign terror organizations.&#8221;
“Our frontline CBP officers continue to remain vigilant in the outbound environment and that attention to detail resulted in a significant outbound currency seizure,” Flores said.
Failing to declare currency totaling $10,000 or more while entering or leaving the United States is a federal offense, according to CBP. Concealing it with the intent of evading reporting requirements is also considered a crime.
In recent weeks, Laredo has become a hub for cartel smuggling.
This week, Border Patrol agents from across the southern and northern borders were asked to volunteer to help assist with a surge in illegal migrant &#8220;gotaways,&#8221; who attempt to evade law enforcement, in Laredo, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-hundreds-of-border-patrol-agents-reassigned-to-southern-border-as-gotaways-surge?author=Jennie+Taer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=4&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=EXCLUSIVE%3A+Agents+Pulled+Nationwide+As+%E2%80%98Gotaways%E2%80%99+Surge+In+Border+Town">The Daily Wire</a> first reported. As part of the effort, CBP hoped to recruit at least 200 Border Patrol agents to help catch the illegal border crossers in the region.
A CBP spokesperson recently told The Daily Wire that the Laredo sector of the border &#8220;is bordered entirely by river, with no natural barriers to slow illegal crossings, which makes it a target when smuggling routes shift and evolve.&#8221;
“Thanks to President Trump, we have the most secure border in American history,” the spokesperson said. “Thanks to record low crossings, we have the manpower and flexibility to move agents quickly, concentrate resources, and take enforcement action where it matters most.”
Border Patrol agents encountered roughly 1,400 illegal migrants in April, marking an 86% increase in crossings, according to internal Homeland Security data <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immigration/border-coverage/200-border-texas-illegal-surge/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> by NewsNation.

Untitled design – 2026-04-30T154341.028

Cartel Cash? Mexican Smuggler Nabbed Trying To Cross Border With Massive Haul

Border

Drug Cartels

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

The southern border could soon reopen to illegal immigrants.
A federal appeals court ruled Friday that President Donald Trump&#8217;s &#8220;invasion&#8221; declaration at the US-Mexico border was illegal, paving the way for the resumption of asylum processing, The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/04/24/court-border-asylum-trump/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
The Trump administration is expected to appeal the decision, which would delay a possible reopening of the floodgates.
On the first day of his second term, Trump issued a proclamation effectively shutting down asylum at the southern U.S. border, stating it would remain in place &#8220;until I issue a finding that the invasion at the southern border has ceased.&#8221;
The policy change led to months of historically low levels of illegal border crossings. Border Patrol has apprehended fewer than 9,000 illegal migrants each month at the southern border since Trump took office, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. Monthly migrant encounters under Trump have fallen below levels seen on some single days during the Biden administration.
During Biden&#8217;s presidency, millions of migrants crossed the border illegally and were often afforded years to remain in the country due to the massive court backlog the crisis created. The Trump administration has sought to end the incentives by turning off the asylum valve.
Immigrant rights organizations sued over Trump&#8217;s policy, arguing that it violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by denying migrants fleeing persecution the ability to claim asylum at the border, according to The Washington Post.
“The court’s opinion does not mean there are now open borders, but only that the United States will no longer be one of the few countries in the world who after World War II does not provide a hearing for those fleeing persecution,” said Lee Gelernt, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) who argued the case.
“The court properly made clear that the president cannot simply waive away the laws enacted by Congress,&#8221; Gelernt said.
In its opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit said the law does not grant Trump the broad authority asserted in the proclamation.
“We conclude that the INA’s text, structure, and history make clear that in supplying power to suspend entry by Presidential proclamation, Congress did not intend to grant the Executive the expansive removal authority it asserts,” the court wrote.
The decision was issued by a three-judge panel, with one judge partially concurring and dissenting.

Surge In Migration Overwhelms Texas Border City Of Eagle Pass

Court Ruling Could Spell Trouble For Trump’s Border Crackdown

Immigration

Two U.S. Embassy officials and two Mexican officials were killed in a car accident in northern Mexico on Sunday.
A <a href="https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/crime/2026/04/19/mexico-us-embassy-staff-police-officials-die-in-chihuahua-accident-after-drug-lab-raids/89692343007/">report</a> published by the El Paso Times stated that all four had been killed in a car accident in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua — which shares a border with southwest Texas. They had been participating in an operation to locate and destroy drug labs in the area.
The two Mexican officials were identified by Chihuahua State authorities as Chihuahua State Investigations Agency Director Pedro Román Oseguera Cervantes and officer Manuel Genaro Méndez Montes. The two U.S. embassy officials have not yet been identified.
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson shared his thoughts in a post on X, offering his condolences to the families of those who had been killed and commenting on the inherent risk present in the jobs they did every day.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of two U.S. Embassy personnel, the Director of Chihuahua’s State Investigation Agency (AEI), and an AEI officer in this accident. We honor their dedication and tireless efforts to confront one of the greatest challenges of our time. Our…
— Embajador Ronald Johnson (@USAmbMex) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAmbMex/status/2045966498921877809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of two U.S. Embassy personnel, the Director of Chihuahua’s State Investigation Agency (AEI), and an AEI officer in this accident. We honor their dedication and tireless efforts to confront one of the greatest challenges of our time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones,&#8221; Johnson posted. &#8220;This tragedy is a solemn reminder of the risks faced by those Mexican and U.S. officials who are dedicated to protecting our communities. It strengthens our resolve to continue their mission and advance our shared commitment to security and justice, to protect our people.&#8221;
The accident came just one day after Chihuahua State police had announced the discovery of two large <a href="https://www.breitbart.com/border/2026/04/19/u-s-and-mexican-police-officials-killed-in-highway-crash-after-lab-raids/">methamphetamine labs</a> in the mountains near Morelos — in the southern part of the state. The labs were reportedly located using drones.

MEXICO-CRIME-DRUG TRAFFIKING-OPERATION-AFTERMATH

U.S. Embassy Staff Killed In Crash Just After High-Risk Operation In Cartel Stronghold

Cartels

Drugs

A previously-deported illegal immigrant allegedly ran a $13 million drug money laundering operation through his Oregon barber shop and Mexican grocery stores.
The Department of Justice <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-or/pr/mexican-national-unlawfully-residing-united-states-accused-laundering-millions-dollars">charged</a> Mexican illegal immigrant Jose Alonso Paramo Arguello, 45, on March 18 with money laundering. Arguello used his Mexican grocery stores in Oregon, Tienda Santa Maria II and Tienda Santa Maria, along with his Paramo&#8217;s Barber Shop in the state, to transfer the drug funds to Mexico by sending wire transfers of $500 or more, which is a common tactic of drug traffickers, according to the U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office in Oregon.
Arguello allegedly wired more than $7 million to locations in Mexico that are tied to narcotrafficking, according to the U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office.
He was voluntarily removed to Mexico in 2003 after sneaking across the border illegally, the Department of Homeland Security told The Daily Wire. He later returned at an unknown time without getting caught.
&#8220;He was issued a voluntary return in 2003 and chose to commit a felony by illegally reentering the United States,” said a DHS spokesperson.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has since lodged a detainer with the U.S. Marshals Service to ensure he&#8217;s &#8220;never&#8221; released, the spokesperson said.
“Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, we will not allow drug traffickers to profit off killing our children and grandchildren,&#8221; the spokesperson added.
Arguello was caught by a government informant, who told the Mexican national he was a drug dealer, to which he responded: “You sell whatever you want, you’re a merchant, period.”
The illegal immigrant allegedly laundered more than $45,000 in what he believed were drug trafficking profits provided by the informant. He sent 22 wire transfers between November 2025 and January 2026 as part of the deal, prosecutors said.
As part of the deal, Arguello allegedly received a 10% commission for his laundering services, which he referred to as a bribe.
A lawyer representing the federal government argued that Arguello was a flight risk and a danger to the public, <a href="https://kobi5.com/news/rogue-valley-man-accused-of-money-laundering-appears-in-court-302467/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to NBC5. The attorney also said there was evidence that the illegal immigrant would try to flee to one of his properties in Mexico if he were to be set free.
He also described Arguello as a &#8220;critical cog&#8221; merging the domestic drug trade with that of the cartels in Mexico.
On the other hand, Arguello&#8217;s legal defense argued that he should be released due to his strong ties to the community and a lack of any past criminal record, NBC5 reported.

Untitled design – 2026-03-25T134547.045

Feds Say Previously-Deported Illegal Became Key Link In Cartel Cash Pipeline, How He Did It

drug trafficking

When I was in college, I passed the César Chávez statue every day on my walk to class at the University of Texas. Now, César Chávez is the name of the road I take to work. 
For years, Chávez was presented as the figurehead for Mexican Americans, a symbol we were expected to revere. But he represented a collectivist ideology that perpetuated ethnic tribalism. After the New York Times broke the story of his sexual abuse of young girls, this false idol is finally toppling. My only hope is that he is not replaced by another.
Chávez has long been celebrated as a symbol of the Civil Rights era and as a champion of labor unions in America. He co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) union to fight for better conditions for migrant laborers. But in truth, he exploited the very people he claimed to protect, while tying Mexican Americans to socialist ideology. He carefully crafted a public image as a family man devoted to Catholic social teaching, but the reality was much darker.
Chávez’s philosophy echoes Marxist rhetoric about the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. At a UFW convention in 1981, Chávez <a href="https://reason.com/2013/07/30/harvest-of-power/#:~:text=Some%20of%20these%20features%20include:%20*%20the,under%20the%20ALRA%20subject%20to%20ALRB%20regulations.">proclaimed:</a> 
<blockquote>I would not take one cup of coffee from a grower [farmer]… There&#8217;s not a good one. I hate them. A few presents, a little talk, then the noose. That’s how capitalism works.</blockquote>
It isn’t just his rhetoric that sounds alarm bells. Early in his career, he worked with Saul Alinsky (the community organizer who defined the modern leftist playbook in “Rules for Radicals”). Chávez and the UFW later implemented Alinsky’s tactics, fostering confrontational, divisive organizing.
Then, there is the recent revelation of his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/left-wing-icon-accused-of-serially-sexually-abusing-young-girls?author=Nathan+Gay&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=15&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Left-Wing+Icon+Accused+Of+Serially+Sexually+Abusing+Young+Girls">extensive sexual abuse</a> of minors. The behavior is not distinct from other far-Left figures. From Josef Stalin to Mao to Kim Jong-il, communist and socialist leaders often share a troubling connection to sexual predation. We should not be surprised that evil ideology attracts evil people.
If the warning signs around Chávez have existed for decades, why did he become the face of an entire ethnicity in America? Partly, because he was effective at mobilizing Mexican Americans in California, using rhetoric that created a lasting “us vs. them” mentality. But how did that ideology extend to Texas?
Chávez never belonged in Tejano heritage the same way he does in Chicano culture. The Chicano culture and movement are a direct outgrowth of the California Hispanic labor movement in the ‘60s and ‘70s. On the other hand, the Tejano culture traces back to the Mexican settlers of Texas prior to Texas Independence and is a component of what created the Texas identity. 
That history is also tied to farming and a cowboy ethos that is incompatible with Chávez’s ideology. Texas agriculture thrived because of ranchers like my ancestors, who embraced a free-market approach, not because of unions or collectivist movements.
Before the New York Times exposé, one could argue that Chávez fought for Mexican Americans and deserved gratitude. Yet his legacy has encouraged a troubling mindset: To be loyal to one’s Hispanic heritage, one must embrace left-wing ideology. On campus, I was often labeled a “race traitor” at conservative events, accused of “wanting white approval,” or dismissed as “too white-passing” to comment on border and immigration issues.
The type of tribalism promoted by Chávez is just like any other kind of identity politics, limiting and stereotyping the people it is intended to empower. In a political climate in which Texas Hispanics are considering Republicans on the ballot, it is clear why the Left is feeling threatened.
So why is a street in Austin named after César Chávez? Why did his statue watch me as I walked to class? The answer is clear: ethnic tokenism. It was fitting for Bill Clinton to award him a Presidential Medal of Freedom and for Joe Biden to display his bust in the Oval Office. Chávez represents the Hispanic worker the political Left wishes we all were: obedient to a union boss and beholden to collectivist ideology.
The UFW announced it will not be celebrating César Chávez Day this year amid the allegations. The idol all Hispanics were once expected to adore is finally falling from his pedestal. My hope is that we do not replace him with another.
* * *
Ariana Guajardo is the Video Production Manager at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. She is the creator and host of &#8220;The Sweet Tea Series&#8221; and co-host of &#8220;The Hard Country,&#8221; where she and Joshua Treviño examine the history and modern tensions shaping U.S.–Mexico relations.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

United Farmer Workers Union Distances Itself From Founder Cesar Chavez After “Troubling Allegations”

Menu