Texas officials are warning ranchers and farmers about a deadly new threat on the border as Mexican cartels deploy military-style improvised explosive devices (IEDs), killing a 74-year-old Texas rancher. The explosion that claimed Antonio Céspedes Saldierna’s life near the Texas border marks a dangerous escalation in cartel tactics that mirrors terrorist strategies used in war zones. Deadly Cartel IED Attack Kills American Rancher Antonio Céspedes Saldierna was killed when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device on a road in Tamaulipas, Mexico, just across from the Texas border. The blast also killed another man, Horacio Lopez Peña, and injured Céspedes’ wife, Ninfa Griselda Ortega, in what officials are describing as a dramatic escalation in cartel violence. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has issued an urgent warning to all farmers and ranchers who work near or travel to the border region. “This shocking act of violence highlights the growing threat posed by cartel activity along our southern border,” Miller stated in an official warning that underscores the deteriorating security situation. "Our agriculture family is the backbone of Texas, and we must do everything we can to protect it," @MillerForTexas said in a warning after a Texas rancher was killed allegedly by an explosive device planted by cartel members. https://t.co/Ef196x1SjK — The Texan (@TheTexanNews) February 25, 2025 Son of Slain Rancher Calls Attack “Terrorism” Ramiro Céspedes, the son of the victim and a U.S. Army veteran, compared the attack to terrorist tactics he witnessed while serving overseas. “I consider this a terrorist attack because if I went to war to fight terrorists, and I’m seeing the same thing here to me – my personal opinion – it is a terrorist attack,” he said, drawing parallels between cartel violence and Middle Eastern terrorism. STATEMENT: A tragic and alarming incident occurred near Brownsville, Texas, where a U.S. citizen and Texas rancher was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) #TexasAgricultureMatters READ HERE: https://t.co/1VdIW1mYcD pic.twitter.com/dt1vKfgaMa — Texas Agriculture (@TexasDeptofAg) February 25, 2025 The U.S. State Department has designated the entire state of Tamaulipas as a “Do Not Travel” zone due to rampant crime and kidnapping. Mexican authorities in Tamaulipas have confirmed the presence of explosive devices on rural roads between Reynosa and Rio Bravo, warning that cartels are increasingly using these weapons against rivals and to control territory. Border Security Crisis Intensifies Reports indicate cartels are now using drones to drop explosives, with some sources linking this escalation to frustration over U.S. immigration policies. The Texas Department of Agriculture has issued specific safety recommendations, advising people to “refrain from touching unfamiliar objects that could be explosive devices, limit travel to daylight hours, stay on main roads, and avoid cartel-controlled regions.” “I urge all Texas farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers who travel to Mexico or operate near the border to exercise extreme caution. The Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) is a crucial part of Texas agriculture, and the safety of our agricultural community is of utmost importance. We cannot overlook the rising violence that threatens not only lives but also the security of our farms, ranches, and rural communities.” – Sid Miller During the Trump administration, several Mexican cartels were designated as foreign terrorist organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The recent IED attack has renewed calls for stronger border security measures and more aggressive action against cartels, whose tactics now include weapons typically associated with terrorism and warfare rather than traditional criminal activity. Sources: Rancher reportedly killed by cartel-made improvised explosive near southern border IED kills border rancher in Mexico, prompting warning about cartels from Texas ag commissioner Texas official issues warning after rancher killed by cartel IED in Mexico: ‘A terrorist attack,’ son says