Exclusive: Cartels targeting homes as smuggling profits dwindle 

DEL RIO, Texas (NewsNation) — Drug cartels are increasingly burglarizing American homes along the Texas border as immigration enforcement cuts into their human smuggling profits, law enforcement officials said.

Several homes along the Rio Grande have been broken into in recent weeks, with the most recent victim losing more than $60,000 worth of valuables, including guns, jewelry and important documents.

Frank Rivas discovered his waterfront home had been ransacked after Mexican nationals crossed the Rio Grande and stormed his property, according to officials. The burglars made off with a massive safe containing cash, weapons, collector's items and his wife's immigration documents.

"Anything of value was gone. Everything was rifled through. The whole house was flipped upside down," Rivas told NewsNation.

The thieves dragged the safe across the border and dumped it in the river when it became too heavy. When Rivas and a sheriff tried to retrieve it by boat, they spotted two individuals guarding the waterlogged safe and had to turn back.

"I don't want to get shot with my own rifles," Rivas said.

Mexican officials stood guard over the safe for days, but Rivas couldn't retrieve it because it was in Mexico. The guns remain missing.

Law enforcement believes desperate cartels are falling back on burglaries now that human smuggling has become riskier and less profitable due to increased border enforcement.

The stretch of river near Del Rio was once the epicenter of the border crisis in 2021 but had been quiet recently. Rivas said he had let his guard down but won't make that mistake again.

"I'm going to stay. It has to be fortified," he said. "I have to make it somewhat of a living prison for myself, which is really sad as beautiful as this place is."

Rivas is now installing security measures including pit bull puppies for protection and plans to add iron bars to his windows.

Other residents in the area report similar concerns and are arming themselves with firearms and less-lethal weapons. Border Patrol has increased patrols in the area to check on neighbors.