The Trump administration is reaffirming its commitment to securing the U.S.-Mexico border and targeting cartel violence following the death of a 74-year-old Texas rancher, Antonio Céspedes Saldierna, who was killed by a suspected cartel-planted explosive in Mexico.

Saldierna was traveling in his truck about two hours south of the border in Tamaulipas, Mexico, when he drove over an improvised explosive device (IED), which detonated and took his life, according to a report from KRGV-TV.

His death follows growing concerns over cartel activity and violence escalating near the U.S. border.

NEW: Texas border rancher k*lled by a suspected cartel IED at the Southern Border, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture.

74-year-old Rancher Antonio Céspedes Saldierna was driving on his ranch when the explosive detonated.

According to the New York Post, Saldierna… pic.twitter.com/PZyY8isbgJ

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 25, 2025

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In response, National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes told Fox News Digital that the administration remains determined to fully secure the border and combat cartel threats.

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“The administration has proven to be ruthlessly aggressive in pursuing criminal gangs that threaten our homeland,” Hughes said.

He emphasized that President Donald Trump’s recent decision to designate eight cartels as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) underscores his commitment to treating cartel members as terrorists.

Trump’s FTO designation includes MS-13, Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua, and several Mexican cartels.

While Hughes did not confirm whether a military response was being considered for the killing of Saldierna, he made it clear that the administration will not back down.

“President Trump will stop at nothing to secure our border, protect our communities, and dismantle terrorist organizations,” he added.

Saldierna’s killing comes after a series of violent incidents near the U.S. border involving cartel groups.

On January 27, U.S. Border Patrol agents came under fire from cartel members near Fronton, Texas.

In early February, footage obtained by the office of Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy revealed that cartels now possess drone technology capable of deploying airborne explosives.

I was sent this video from friends at the border. It has NOT BEEN CORROBORATED but it shows what appears to be cartel on cartel battles in Mexico. The drone drops an explosive toward a “Monstro” (cartel armored vehicle). The audio appears to be from cartel operatives. pic.twitter.com/TBR3XvR8og

— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) February 3, 2025

Following Saldierna’s death, Roy called for an aggressive response to the cartels.

“The results of Biden’s pathetic border policies have now culminated in the death of a Texas rancher driving to his ranch in Mexico through a cartel-planted IED – an explosive device commonly used by terrorist organizations in the Middle East,” Roy told Fox News Digital.

“This savage display of violence is further evidence that these cartels must be treated as the terrorists that they are.”

Roy urged Congress to act swiftly to solidify the Trump administration’s designation of cartels as FTOs.

“President Trump issued an Executive Order to designate Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Since 2019, I have introduced legislation to designate these lawless groups as FTO,” he said.

“Now is the time to codify President Trump’s EO to take the fight to the cartels and wipe them out once and for all.”

Former South Texas Congresswoman Mayra Flores echoed concerns over the escalating cartel violence, telling Fox News Digital that Saldierna’s death “highlights the challenges that many face daily.”

Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz also weighed in, emphasizing the importance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol in countering cartel operations.

“I will work with the Trump Administration to support the Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol and ICE Agents as they work to arrest every criminal and cartel member in our country and secure our border,” De La Cruz said.

Rep. Tony Gonzales, whose district covers a large portion of the southern border, voiced his full support for the Trump administration’s terrorist designation of cartels.

“Cartels have no regard for our laws, let alone the sanctity of life,” Gonzales said. “They are terrorists and deserve to be designated as such. This tragic death in South Texas is just another example of that.”

As cartel violence intensifies near the border, pressure is mounting for stronger measures to dismantle these organizations and prevent further attacks on American citizens.

The Trump administration has vowed to maintain an aggressive stance, reinforcing its commitment to border security and targeting cartel operatives with the same level of force used against terrorist organizations.

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