The latest tragic evidence of rampant violence south of the border emerged this week when the body of a South Texas woman was found in Nuevo Leon, a Mexican state near the U.S. border.
According to reports, Bionce Jazmin Anaya Cortez, 20, traveled to Mexico to spend time with her family during the Easter holiday. She disappeared during that trip and her body was found several days later on a ranch near El Verde.
Early evidence indicates that she died as a result of severe contusions to her head and body.
Her mother said Cortez’s final text was a heart emoji sent at about 1 a.m. on April 6, noting that when she attempted to contact her daughter about an hour later her message did not go through.
Although violent crime remains an epidemic across much of Mexico, Nuevo Leon has experienced a significant spike in kidnappings and murders amid an ongoing clash over territory between the Los Zetas gang, the Gulf Cartel, and the Sinaloa Cartel.
Joe Biden created the chaos at the border and turned vicious narcoterrorists into multi-billionaires! pic.twitter.com/ODusf0Seip
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 8, 2023
Less than two months ago, a trio of South Texas women — Marina Perez Rios, Maritza Trinidad Perez Rios, and Dora Alicia Cervantes Saenz — went missing in Nuevo Leon as they traveled through Mexico on their way to sell clothing. As of this writing, their whereabouts were still unknown.
Although some of their loved ones believe U.S. authorities have not done enough to investigate the disappearance, the FBI issued a statement last month asserting that it “relentlessly pursues all options when it comes to protecting the American people, and this doesn’t change when they are endangered across the border.”
The uptick in violence across Mexico prompted a stern warning to Americans ahead of spring break.
In an advisory from the U.S. Department of State, six of Mexico’s 32 states received its strongest “do not travel” warning. By comparison, only two maintained a status recommending “normal precautions” for American travelers.
Former U.S. Marshal Robert Almonte noted that even seemingly safe resorts are often operated by dangerous Mexican cartels.
“They’re not going to have their name on there,” he explained. “They’re going to other individuals that have interest in the companies already and I think one of the main reasons is to launder their money.”
