Calls for RICO Enforcement in Texas Incident
Texas Republican Rep. Beth Van Duyn has urged the enforcement of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act against those involved in a recent “ambush” conspiracy linked to the Fox business show “The Bottom Line.”
On Monday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released the mug shots of ten individuals arrested in Alvarado, Texas, on Friday, following an attack on an ice facility. Fox business host Dagen McDowell highlighted the suspects’ attire during the arrests and questioned Van Duyn about whether they intended to send a message by attacking law enforcement.
“It feels like there’s been a decade of assaults on law enforcement officers. Honestly, I want to see these individuals off the streets for life. We really need to communicate that this behavior won’t be tolerated,” Van Duyn stated.
“We need to investigate who’s behind these organizations, who’s orchestrating these efforts, and who’s funding them. It’s only by tackling these issues that we can truly deter such actions. Right now, it just seems like we’re showing a lot of weakness.”
The suspects have been linked to a North Texas antifa group called “Terrocel.” Criminal charges reveal that they allegedly set off fireworks at the ice facility, vandalizing the center and parking lot, while dressed in all black and writing “Ice Pig.”
As reported by the DOJ, attempts to communicate with the group escalated when two suspects opened fire, shooting 20-30 rounds at the officers and resulting in injuries to police personnel.
“The rhetoric from my Democratic colleagues keeps getting more extreme. It’s shocking what they say—they seem to be promoting violence in some cases. We must enforce the law and ensure that those orchestrating these crimes face severe consequences,” Van Duyn expressed.
After the Alvarado incident, U.S. attorney Nancy Larson described it as “a planned ambush aimed at harming a correction officer.” Just days later, in another incident, 27-year-old Ryan Luis Mosqueda from Michigan lost his life after allegedly setting fire to a Border Patrol agent at a facility in McAllen, Texas. According to a report from early June, ICE agents have faced a dramatic 500% increase in assaults while attempting to apprehend illegal immigrants.