19 Dead In Mexican Cartel Shootout Near U.S. Border
Rachel SandlerForbes Staff
Topline: At least 19 people were killed in a gunfight in northern Mexico over the weekend, as tensions rise between the U.S. and Mexico over President Donald Trump’s comments earlier this week in which he floated the idea of declaring Mexican cartels terrorist groups.
Mexico’s homicide rate has increased in 2019 to historically high levels, and two recent high-profile incidents of cartel violence have put pressure on Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to act. In October, security forces captured the son of notorious drug kingpin El Chapo, only to release him later fearing more violence from cartels. And in November, nine members of a Mormon family were murdered by suspected drug cartels.