Latin Kings Gang Issues ‘Shoot On Sight’ Order Against Federal Agents In Blue City

Federal agents in Chicago are on high alert after Latin Kings gang leaders reportedly ordered a “shoot on sight” directive against Customs and Border Protection officers, according to an internal agency warning obtained by NewsNation.

“Officers/agents are reminded to maintain heightened situational awareness and exercise extreme caution when conducting enforcement activities,” the alert read.

The chilling threat follows a weekend immigration raid in the city’s Little Village neighborhood, where shots were fired at federal agents, and attackers hurled a paint can and bricks at a Border Patrol vehicle.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson wouldn’t address the Latin Kings threat directly but said “our law enforcement is now facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them while they risk their lives every single day to remove the worst of the worst.”

“Nearly every day we have seen violence, assaults, or smears against our officers in Chicago, including yesterday when agents’ vehicles were rammed multiple times and shots fired at them,” the spokesperson added.

The violence comes two months into Operation Midway Blitz, a major Trump administration immigration crackdown that has triggered waves of protests across the city. Activists have followed and confronted heavily armed agents, and earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis issued a sweeping injunction limiting agents’ use of force after accusing a top Border Patrol official of lying about threats from demonstrators.

The danger escalated when a confidential source told federal investigators on Oct. 3 that a “hit” had been placed on Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino. ICE Homeland Security Investigations agents identified the suspect as Juan Espinoza Martinez, a member of the Latin Kings, who was arrested three days later in Burr Ridge, Illinois.

RELATED: ICE Agents Shot At In Ambush Attack, Suspects At-Large

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Investigators say Martinez used Snapchat to offer a $2,000 bounty for information “cuando lo agarren,” meaning “when they catch him,” and a $10,000 reward “if you take him down.” Another message — “LK… on him” — tied the threat to the notorious street gang.

The Justice Department has charged Martinez with soliciting the murder of a senior law enforcement official.

“Depraved individuals like Juan Espinoza Martinez – who do not value human life and threaten law enforcement – do NOT belong in this country,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “We will not allow criminal gangs to put hits on U.S. government officials and our law enforcement officers. Thanks to ICE and our federal law enforcement partners, this thug is off our streets and behind bars. These attacks on our brave law enforcement officers must END. Secretary Noem has been crystal clear: If you threaten or lay a hand on law enforcement, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

DHS confirmed the accused hitman is an illegal immigrant from Mexico who entered the U.S. at an unknown time and place.

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