NewsNation obtained an internal warning from the federal agency in Chicago that said Latin Kings leaders had reportedly issued a directive to “shoot at sight” against Customs and Border Protection agents.
The alert stated that “Officers/agents should maintain enhanced situational awareness when performing enforcement activities” and to exercise extreme caution.
This chilling warning follows an immigration raid that took place in Little Village, a neighborhood of the city, on Saturday. Federal agents were shot at and attackers launched a paint-can and bricks towards a Border Patrol car.
The Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman refused to address directly the threat from Latin Kings, but stated that “our law-enforcement officers are now faced with an increase of 8,000% in death threats while they are risking their lives each and every day for the removal of the worst of worst.”
The spokesperson said that “nearly everyday we see violence, assaults or smears” against officers, and yesterday agents’ cars were repeatedly rammed with shots being fired.
Two months after Operation Midway Blitz began, which was a Trump Administration immigration crackdown, violence has broken out in the city. The activists have confronted and followed heavily-armed Border Patrol agents. Earlier this week U.S. district judge Sara Ellis handed down a broad injunction that limits the use of force by agents after she accused a senior Border Patrol official lying about demonstrator threats.
A confidential source informed federal investigators that on October 3, a hit had been made on Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino. ICE Homeland Security Investigations agents recognized the suspect as Juan Espinoza Martinez. He was a Latin Kings member who had been arrested in Burr Ridge Illinois three days after the initial arrest.
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The investigators claim that Martinez offered a bounty of $2,000 for any information about “cuando lo agarren” (when they capture him) and a reward of $10,000 “if you can take him down”. Another message, “LK…on him”, tied this threat to the infamous street gang.
Martinez has been charged by the Justice Department with soliciting a murder of an important law enforcement official.
Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant secretary of state for Homeland Security said: “Depraved people like Juan Espinoza Martinez who don’t value life or law enforcement do not belong here.” We will not let criminal gangs target U.S. officials or law enforcement officers. This thug has been put behind bars thanks to ICE, our federal partners in law enforcement and the FBI. This vile attack on brave officers of law enforcement must stop. Secretary Noem was very clear in his statement: “If you lay your hands on or threaten law enforcement officers, you’ll be prosecuted up to and including the maximum extent of the laws.”
DHS has confirmed that the man accused of the hit is an illegal Mexican immigrant who came to the U.S. in an unknown location and time.
