Border sheriff: Cartels kill each other half a block from Arizona border … then ask for asylum

You can’t make this stuff up. There is warfare-level violence right on our border between rival factions of cartels. Then the losing side comes to our border for asylum, states and county sheriffs are forced to deal with the security threats on their own, and the federal government continues to view this as an immigration issue, not a national defense problem that requires military protection of our border.

Late Monday into Tuesday, there was a significant increase in violence between rival Sinaloa cartel factions in Mexican towns Agua Prieta and Naco, both border towns with Arizona cities Douglas and Naco. Specifically, about nine people were killed in Agua Prieta and Naco, according to Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels. The sheriff told CR in an interview today that his sources told him on Tuesday “the plaza boss for Sinaloa in Agua Prieta got upset with one of the leaders of his team and wiped out the entire team, including the girlfriend of the lower boss.” Dannels told CR that the shootout happened just “half a block from the border” with Douglas, Arizona. Two adults and three children were taken to hospitals in Douglas and Tucson.

Sheriff Dannels said he has a great relationship with local Border Patrol and is coordinating with them, other border sheriffs, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

“Our first job is to protect our communities and the citizens of my county. I’m steadfast in that commitment. We do our part; we are not running, regardless of what the feds do.”