U.S. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens announced the arrest of a cartel member involved in trafficking and "terrorizing communities on both sides of the border." Owens made this statement in a November 4 post on X.
"On 10/29, USBP agents in Laredo, TX, arrested a Cartel del Noreste (CDN) member—a violent transnational criminal organization known for ruthless tactics, trafficking, and terrorizing communities on both sides of the border," said Jason Owens, Chief of Border Patrol. "Apprehending individuals like him is critical to keeping our communities safe."
According to Border Report, Jesus Alexander Ramirez was apprehended at a supermarket in Laredo, Texas, on October 29. Initially encountered by Laredo Police, Ramirez was subsequently taken into custody by Border Patrol. He is accused of being responsible for both drug and human trafficking.
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ProPublica reports that trafficking and extortion remain significant threats to migrants traveling through Mexico as they attempt to cross into the United States. The dangers faced by these migrants are exacerbated by cartels adapting to routes and employing kidnapping and extortion tactics.
In 2023, the U.S. requested that Mexico adopt stricter immigration measures, according to ProPublica. Due to limited resources, Mexico deports only 2% of encountered migrants. In 2024, approximately 60,000 migrants were bused to southern parts of the country as part of an effort to deter migration. Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute, said that this action was "designed to deter migrants by making it harder and even more expensive to get through Mexico," but instead "gives organized crime groups a second bite at the apple to extort migrants."
ProPublica further explains that cartels have established themselves along Mexico's southern border, profiting from migrants crossing into Mexico and those returned after being bused south. Nearly all migrants traveling from Ciudad Hidalgo on the Mexico-Guatemala border have been imprisoned and ransomed at an abandoned ranch. Nevy de Zelada, a migrant from Guatemala, recounted being held with her family in an animal pen until they could pay the ransom.
Owens is described as a law enforcement veteran with 27 years of experience and an executive leader (SES). He was appointed as the 26th Chief of the United States Border Patrol under U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which is noted as the largest law enforcement agency in the nation with over 60,000 employees.
