Calls for RICO Enforcement in Texas Incident
Texas Republican Representative Beth Van Duyn has urged enforcement of the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act against suspects involved in what she described as an “ambush” conspiracy. This comes in light of recent events connected to an attack on an ice facility, as discussed on Fox Business’s “The Bottom Line.”
On Monday, authorities released mug shots of ten individuals arrested in Alvarado, Texas, on charges related to this attack, which happened on Friday. Fox Business host Dagen McDowell questioned Van Duyn about the suspects’ motivations during the arrests, hinting at a desire to send a message.
“I think they’ve already faced a decade of attacking law enforcement, but I want to see them behind bars for life,” Van Duyn stated. “We need to clearly communicate that this kind of behavior is unacceptable.” She emphasized the need to investigate the organizations backing these actions, mentioning that recognition of these pathways could deter future incidents, although she fears that current reactions merely signal weakness.
The suspects are reportedly linked to a North Texas antifa group called “Terrocel,” with charges indicating that they used fireworks to damage the facility and arrived dressed in black, leaving behind graffiti that read “Ice Pig.”
According to the Department of Justice, attempts to engage with the group escalated dramatically; two suspects reportedly fired 20 to 30 rounds at officers, resulting in local police being injured.
“The rhetoric from some of my colleagues across the aisle is increasingly alarming. I find it shocking what is being said, as it seems to foster an environment of violence,” Van Duyn continued. “We have to not only enforce the law but also ensure that those orchestrating these actions are held accountable.”
Following this incident, U.S. attorney Nancy Larson remarked that the attack appeared to be a deliberate ambush aimed at harming an ICE officer.
A few days after the Alvarado assault, a Michigan resident, Ryan Luis Mosqueda, 27, died after allegedly setting fire to a Border Patrol agent at an annex facility in McAllen, Texas. Reports from June indicated a staggering 500% increase in assaults on ICE agents attempting to detain illegal immigrants.
