A Texas border rancher was killed earlier this month by a suspected cartel-planted explosive device, prompting officials to issue urgent safety warnings for the Rio Grande Valley, the Texas Department of Agriculture confirmed Tuesday.
Antonio Céspedes Saldierna, 74, who worked on both sides of the border, was killed alongside Horacio Lopez Peña in Tamaulipas, Mexico, just south of Brownsville, Texas. Lopez’s wife, Ninfa Griselda Ortega, survived but was hospitalized with injuries.
According to reports, Saldierna was driving on his ranch when his vehicle triggered the explosive, leading to a deadly detonation. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller described the incident as part of an escalating threat posed by cartel violence near the southern border, urging ranchers to remain cautious.
“I encourage everyone in the agricultural industry to stay vigilant, be aware of their surroundings, and report suspicious activity to law enforcement,” Miller stated, advising ranchers to avoid remote roads, travel only in daylight, and steer clear of cartel-controlled regions.
Saldierna’s son, Ramiro Céspedes, a U.S. Army veteran wounded by an IED in combat, expressed shock over his father’s death. “I consider this a terrorist attack. I fought against these kinds of threats overseas, and now I’m seeing the same thing here at home,” he said.
Authorities have issued warnings about rising cartel-related threats along the border, with some factions being designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
