Borderland: Narcosis with Vincent 'Rocco' Vargas

Expert Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera explores the evolution of Los Zetas from military roots to criminal powerhouse. Discussion on cartel complexities and their transformation into legitimate businesses. Insights into Mexico's violent landscape, transnational implications, and challenges under a new president. Book launch celebrating the beauty of the US-Mexico border.

Today on Borderland, Vince is joined by former border patrol agent and ICE Director, Tom Homan. Tom joined the Immigration and Naturalization Service in 1984, later becoming a Border Patrol agent. He was then appointed by President Obama as Executive Associate Director of ICE in 2011. He received the Presidential Rank Award as a Distinguished Executive in 2015. Finally, in 2017, he was appointed acting director of ICE by President Trump before retiring in June of 2018. Sponsors: This 4th of July, make Horizon part of your celebration. Don’t miss HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA, with Chapter One in theaters June 28th and Chapter Two in theaters August 16th.  Join the Frontier Pass at Fandango.com for exclusive content and tickets. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's Borderland, Vince talks to renowned journalist, Luis Chaparro. Luis is based on the U.S./Mexico border, and has over 15 years of experience in reporting on Mexican organized crime. He has extensively covered drug cartels, detailing their operations, leadership, and societal impact. He has interviewed fentanyl dealers and human smugglers, and his reporting also highlights the hardships faced by migrants traveling through Mexico, including encounters with human traffickers and corrupt officials. Follow Luis on IG: IG: https://www.instagram.com/luiskuryaki/?hl=en Follow Luis on X: https://x.com/LuisKuryaki?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor This 4th of July, make Horizon part of your celebration. Don’t miss HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA, with Chapter One in theaters June 28th and Chapter Two in theaters August 16th.  Join the Frontier Pass at Fandango.com for exclusive content and tickets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vince discusses the terrorist threats at the Southern border with former CIA Intelligence Analyst and Targeter, Sarah Adams. From 2015-2017, Sarah served as the Senior Advisor to the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Benghazi. She also served overseas on behalf of the U.S. Government’s intelligence mission in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. She is the co-author of The Benghazi Committee Report: Proposed Report of the Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi and the author of Benghazi: Know Thy Enemy. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Vince continues to dive deeper into the cases of deported veterans with guests Alex Murillo and Livier "Livvy" Lazaro. Alex Murillo, a Navy veteran and son of Mexican immigrants, was brought to the U.S. as a toddler and served two tours in Iraq as a jet mechanic. After returning home in 2000, he struggled with PTSD and civilian life, leading to a 2009 conviction for marijuana possession with intent to distribute. Deported to Mexico in 2011, he was separated from his family of four but was allowed to return to the U.S. in 2022. Now, he seeks to assist other deported veterans. Livier "Livvy" Lazaro, a first-generation Mexican American, joined the military at 17 and served as an Army Combat medic in Iraq during the 2003 invasion and again in 2007. She retired as Sergeant First Class after 20 years and became the first female Commander of VFW Post 7420 in San Diego. As part of the VFW, a nonprofit veterans service organization, Livvy played a key role in passing a national directive to help bring home deported veterans. Follow VFW Post 7420 at https://www.instagram.com/vfwpost7420/?hl=en Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guests is Danitza “Dee” James.   She was born in Sonora, Mexico, and moved to US at 15. She is a combat veteran, having served in Iraq on two combat tours. Today, she serves as Chief Executive Officer at Repatriate Our Patriots (ROP) a non-profit organization dedicated to aiding in the repatriation of deported veterans and preventing future deportations. You can learn more at https://www.repatriateourpatriots.org/  Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Vince talks to retired DEA agent, Derek Maltz about the realities of the fentanyl epidemic in the United States. Derek was also the Special Agent in Charge of the DOJ, Special Operations Division (SOD) for almost 10 years before he left the federal government, and previously held the position as the Chief of the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, the oldest and largest drug task force in America. Today, he is Executive Director at PenLink, which offers comprehensive solutions tailored for law enforcement, national security and defense sectors. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vince talks with former Game Warden John Nores about how Mexican drug cartels operate in America's forests and public lands. John served as a Game Warden for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for more than 25 years. He helped develop and lead the Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET), an elite tactical unit targeting cartel drug operations on California’s public lands and created the agency’s sniper capability. John's latest book, Hidden War, 2nd Edition, is out now: http://www.johnnores.com/hidden-war.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vince sits down with the 24th Sheriff of Pinal County in Arizona, Mark Lamb.  He is also a candidate for the United States Senate. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today Vince takes a deep dive into the fast and furious gun-running scandal with guest Pete Forcelli.He is widely known as a whistleblower for the Operation Fast and Furious scandal and wrote the book The Deadly Path: How Operation Fast & Furious and Bad Lawyers Armed Mexican Cartels Pete served for 15 years with the N.Y.P.D prior to joining the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, where he retired as d Deputy Assistant Director. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices