Texas Rancher and U.S. Citizen Fatally Injured by Cartel IED Near U.S.-Mexico Border – One America News Network
OAN Staff Blake Wolf
2:16 PM – Tuesday, February 25, 2025
A U.S. citizen and rancher from Texas near the border reportedly lost his life earlier this month due to a “cartel IED,” as per the Texas Department of Agriculture — which confirmed the details on Tuesday.
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“An improvised explosive device (IED) attack involves the use of a homemade bomb or destructive device designed to cause destruction, incapacitation, harassment, or distraction. IEDs are employed by criminals, vandals, terrorists, suicide bombers, and insurgents,” as stated by Homeland Security.
74-year-old rancher Antonio Céspedes Saldierna and U.S. citizen Horacio Lopez Peña were killed in Tamaulipas, Mexico, which is just south of Brownsville, Texas.
Additionally, Lopez’s spouse, Ninfa Griselda Ortega, sustained injuries from the explosion.
The explosive reportedly detonated while Saldierna was driving across his ranch, according to KRGV Channel 5 News.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller released a statement addressing the “cartel violence near the Texas-Mexico border” on Tuesday.
“A tragic and concerning incident transpired near Brownsville, Texas, where a U.S. citizen and Texas rancher lost his life due to an improvised explosive device (IED). This distressing act of violence underscores the growing dangers posed by cartel activities along our southern border,” Miller expressed.
“I urge all Texas farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers who travel to Mexico or operate close to the border to exercise the utmost caution. The Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) is a vital area for Texas agriculture, and the safety of our agricultural community is paramount. We cannot ignore the escalating violence that threatens not only lives but also the security of our farms, ranches, and rural communities,” the statement further emphasized.
“I encourage everyone in the agricultural sector to remain vigilant, stay aware of their surroundings, and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. Moreover, you should avoid dirt roads and secluded areas, do not touch unfamiliar objects that could potentially be explosive devices, restrict travel to daylight hours, stick to main roads, and steer clear of regions controlled by cartels. Our agricultural family is the backbone of Texas, and we must do everything possible to protect it.”
Moreover, the New York Post spoke with Saldierna’s son, Ramiro Céspedes, a U.S. Army veteran who had previously sustained injuries from an IED explosion during his deployment.
“I view this as a terrorist attack because if I went to war to combat terrorists, what I’m seeing here is, in my opinion, the same type of threat – it is a terrorist attack,” Ramiro remarked.
This incident follows a recent occurrence where U.S. Border Patrol agents were engaged in a gunfight with suspected members of a Mexican cartel near the Rio Grande river at the end of January.
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