Invasion: Gangs, gun battles at Tex-Mex border

By Michelle Malkin
July 24, 2010 07:11 PM


There’s a new outbreak of disorder at the southern border this weekend.

The AP reports on gun battles plaguing the region across from Laredo, Texas:

Late-night gunbattles with gangs who forced citizens from their cars and used the vehicles to block streets paralyzed a border city, sound of gunfire alarmed Texans on the U.S. side of the Rio Grande.

The Nuevo Laredo city government posted messages on Facebook warning citizens to stay indoors as the battles erupted at several intersections in the city across from Laredo, Texas.

Frightened people on the U.S. side of the border called emergency dispatchers after hearing the gunfire, Laredo police spokesman Joe Baeza said Thursday. But he said there was no spillover violence.

“We were getting reports from people who live on the river’s edge that they could hear gunfire and explosions from the Mexico side,” Baeza said.

“We didn’t have any incidents on the American side. It’s hard for people to understand who don’t live here,” he added. “They’re not Vikings, they’re not going to invade us, it doesn’t work that way.”

Nuevo Laredo city officials said they could not immediately confirm witness reports that several gunmen were killed.
Despite those denials, rumors are swirling of a Zetas-led invasion into Texas ranches. Digger’s Realm, a veteran immigration blogger, has the story:

The bloodbath continues along our southern border and now word is coming in that Los Zetas, the highly trained killers formerly with the Gulf Cartel, have crossed into the United States and taken over at least two ranches in the Laredo, Texas area. I am receiving word that the owners of the ranches have evacuated without being harmed. The source is law enforcement in the area.

(Update 2 story is now 100% confirmed by second source within the Laredo Police Department)

Founder of the San Diego Minutemen Jeff Schwilk tipped me off to this story and passes along the following information on the location. The ranches are said to be “near Mines Rd. and Minerales Annex Rd about 10 miles NW of I-35″.

Update 1 (Statement from Mr. Schwilk)

I can personally vouch that this info came in late last night from a reliable police source inside the Laredo PD. There is currently a standoff between the unknown size Zeta forces and U.S. Border Patrol and local law enforcement on two ranches on our side of the Rio Grande. The source tells us he considers this an “act of war” and that the military is needed on the border now!



UPDATE
***

Update: Elizabeth Kilbride has contradictory info from the Laredo PD regarding the rumored ranch seizures:

Individuals who have flooded the switchboards of the Laredo Police Department and the Webb Sheriff’s Department have been asking one question: is there a problem down along the border? They have received the same response just as I received when I asked the same question, “Yes, there is a problem down here and it’s serious,” said one law enforcement source. When asked if there is any truth to the rumors of a Texas Rancher having their property taken over by the Cartel on this side of the border their response was clear, “Hell no and I’d know, I’m a 9-11 operator.”

As you can see it’s all about how you ask the question in order to receive the correct answer when inquiring into such a seriously volatile situations. When you call any police department along the border and ask if there is a problem down their way, of course they will say there is for sure. They deal with border issues every day and yes, there is a serious problem down their way. Therefore, please be sure to ask the right questions before posting out to the masses about this issue. I for one am guilty today of doing the same as all of you, which is why I made the phone calls and asked the right questions to quell this situation once and for all.
Confederate Yankee also called Laredo PD: No ranch seizures.

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Here is some situational information, The Zetas are being targeted for elimination by the Gulf Cartel, with the Zetas being on the losing side of late . The Gulf Cartel has influence over President Calderon.

I would bet the occupants of any seized ranches on our side of the border, were likely Zetas who were fleeing Nuevo Laredo after losing today's gun battle.

Steve