During Fox Interview Hegseth Comments On Cartels
In a stark and resolute message from Guantanamo Bay, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made it clear on Wednesday evening that the United States will stop at nothing to defend its borders and the safety of its citizens. Speaking with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Hegseth did not mince words: “Nothing is off the table.”
This declaration comes as part of President Donald Trump’s sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration and transnational crime. Shortly after taking office, Trump directed his administration to utilize Guantanamo Bay Naval Base as a holding facility for illegal migrants. The move aligns with his aggressive stance on mass deportations, as well as his recent executive orders designating major Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. The border lockdown and ongoing arrests of violent criminals, including rapists and murderers, have sent a strong signal that the days of unchecked migration and cartel influence are over.
As Ingraham pressed Hegseth on the administration’s strategy, she pointed to reports that Trump’s border security measures are directly disrupting cartel operations in the U.S. When asked if military action—potentially including strikes against fentanyl labs in Mexico—was a possibility, Hegseth’s response was unequivocal. “Nothing’s off the table,” he reiterated, making it clear that defending American sovereignty takes precedence over diplomatic hesitation.
This hardline stance is reinforced by a broader federal effort to dismantle cartel operations within U.S. borders. Border czar Tom Homan and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have spearheaded aggressive ICE raids across the country. However, their mission has been met with resistance, particularly in sanctuary cities, where some local officials have attempted to shield illegal migrants from deportation. The challenge has been further complicated by suspected leaks from within the FBI, which potentially compromised several planned raids. Noem recently announced that some of the “leakers” had been identified, though details remain scarce.
🚨 @SecDef Pete Hegseth just sent a STRONG message to the cartels:
“We’re taking nothing off the table. Nothing… we will do WHATEVER it takes to secure the American homeland, maintain our sovereignty, and protect the American people.”
When asked if that includes drone… pic.twitter.com/jFJGrS6SRq
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 27, 2025
Meanwhile, the deadly reach of cartel violence has hit disturbingly close to home. Earlier this month, a Texas border rancher lost his life to a suspected cartel-planted improvised explosive device (IED). The Texas Department of Agriculture confirmed the death of 74-year-old Antonio Céspedes Saldierna, who was killed alongside Horacio Lopez Peña in Tamaulipas, Mexico, just south of Brownsville, Texas. The explosion, which injured Lopez’s wife, Ninfa Griselda Ortega, underscores the mounting danger along the southern border.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has issued a grave warning, urging ranchers to remain vigilant and take precautions to avoid potential cartel threats. The use of IEDs—devices commonly associated with war zones—signals an escalation in cartel tactics, transforming the border region into an increasingly volatile battleground. For those living and working in the area, the threat is no longer theoretical; it is a brutal reality.
Perhaps no one understands this reality better than Ramiro Céspedes, a U.S. Army veteran and the son of the slain rancher. Having encountered IEDs on the battlefield, he never expected his father to fall victim to such an attack at home. “I consider this a terrorist attack,” he said, echoing growing concerns that cartel violence has reached a new level of extremism.
In response, the Trump administration has doubled down on its efforts to classify cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. With this designation, the government gains broader authority to combat these groups, potentially including military action.
As Hegseth made clear from Guantanamo Bay, the United States is prepared to escalate its response if necessary. Whether through strategic military strikes, intensified law enforcement operations, or diplomatic pressure, the administration has sent a clear message: the era of unchecked cartel violence and open-border policies is over.