WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken following reports of an uptick in Americans being killed and kidnapped by cartels.

This letter comes in response to two incidents at the southern border. The first one happened two weeks ago, in which four Americans were kidnapped by the Gulf Cartel in broad daylight in Matamoros, just across the border from Brownsville, Texas, of whom two were killed. The second one occurred this weekend when it was reported that three more Americans are missing in Mexico: Maritza Trinidad Perez Rios, her sister Marina Perez Rios, and their friend Dora Alicia Cervantes Saenz, none of whom have been heard from in nearly three weeks.

Congressman Gonzales said in the letter, “Criminal cartel syndicates have never been as powerful as they are today, wreaking havoc with impunity in Mexico and spurring violent crimes in the United States through their illicit activities. These trends make it clear that the United States must take a more proactive approach in addressing this issue at its root. Americans are being killed and kidnapped by cartels alongside thousands of Mexican citizens. 

 

“Mexican cartels act without fear of repercussions or accountability, placing Americans directly in harm’s way. The United States must act now to change this disturbing reality.”

Read the full text of the letter here.