Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, said that reports of Mexican cartels offering bounties to target U.S. law enforcement in Chicago bolster the argument for stricter border security, deportations, and dismantling cartel networks. The statement was made on X.
"Bounties from the Mexican Cartels to kill American law enforcement in Chicago," said Cortes. "This kind of terror should only strengthen our resolve. Secure our border, deport illegals, smash the cartels."
Federal officials have confirmed credible intelligence indicating that Mexican cartels have placed bounties on U.S. immigration and customs officers operating in Chicago. Allegedly, tens of thousands of dollars are being offered for targeted attacks. The alert, issued between October 14 and 15, 2025, warns of cooperation between local gangs and cartel operatives conducting surveillance on federal agents, as reported by ABC News.
According to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intelligence summarized by Police1, cartels have reportedly offered $2,000 for information on agent identities, $5,000 to $10,000 for kidnappings or assaults, and up to $50,000 for killing senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials. DHS cautioned that armed cartel "spotters" were observed in Chicago neighborhoods tracking agents' activities in real time, signaling an organized multi-city threat.
While targeted threats against law enforcement rise, FBI data show overall violent crime fell 4.5% in 2024, with murders down 14.9%. However, officer assaults reached a 10-year high at 85,730 cases, including 64 felonious deaths. Chicago police also recorded declines in major violent crimes early in 2025, indicating divergent national and localized risks. This information was reported by Reuters.
Cortes is the Founder and President of the League of American Workers and a senior political advisor to CatholicVote. He previously served as a senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance and is a commentator for Fox News and CNN. Cortes regularly releases documentaries and columns at cortesinvestigates.com.
The League of American Workers was founded in 2022 by Cortes to promote "pro-worker patriotic populism" through media and policy advocacy on immigration, wages, and economic nationalism. The organization aims to advance working-class priorities and strengthen U.S. labor and industry according to its official website.
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