U.S. State Department Issues Security Alert for Mexicali, Baja California

By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat

Last night, the U.S. Department of State issued a security alert suspending U.S. Consulate operations and warning U.S. citizens of a potential threat in Mexicali, Baja California. The alert is likely related to a potential Los Rusos retaliatory attack against the Mexican government.

Following the U.S. alert, the Baja California government announced a special operation with the participation of all security agencies operating in the state. Increased patrols and static deployments were observed across the city.

Military units reported at the Civic Center of Mexicali

This morning, journalist Luis Chaparro reported that the DEA’s San Diego office intercepted communications in which Los Rusos members discussed plans to attack Municipal Police and FGR facilities in Mexicali. This reporting has not been confirmed publicly by authorities, but aligns with recent news coverage of Los Rusos retaliatory campaigns against police and threats against the FGR.

On August 25, Mexico's Security Ministry released a statement that they had not detected any threats. 

In June and July, several FESC officers were targeted and killed following their involvement in an operation that resulted in the death of a Los Rusos sicario, as reported by Borderland Beat. Over the last two weeks, Los Rusos have issued public threats against the state prosecutor’s office through narco-banners left alongside abandoned bodies, accusing the FGR of collaborating with their rivals the Arellano Félix Cartel. 

Given the prior Los Rusos retaliatory campaigns in the city, the intercepted phone call was probably assessed as being a credible threat to Mexican government offices.

It is unlikely that the alert reflects a threat specifically directed at U.S. government personnel or civilians. Earlier this month, the U.S. State Department issued a similar alert for Michoacán that explicitly referenced threats to “U.S. interests”. The absence of this phrase suggests the threat is not directed specifically at U.S. firms or citizens.

Sources: US Embassy Alert, @GabSeguridadMX, Luis Chaparro, El Financiero, @michellerivera