Father’s Tragic Loss Exposes the Deadly Consequences of Biden’s Open Borders

The murder of Nicholas Quets, a 31-year-old former U.S. Marine from Tucson, Arizona, stands as a grim testament to the chaos that flourished under the Biden administration’s border policies. Quets, who had served his country honorably and was in the process of applying to become a U.S. Border Patrol agent, was gunned down on October 18, 2024, while traveling on a highway in northern Mexico. His father, Warren Quets, has openly blamed the previous administration’s approach for emboldening criminal cartels like the Sinaloa group responsible for his son’s death.

Warren described the horrifying details of the attack, where Nicholas encountered a cartel roadblock manned by about 25 heavily armed individuals in 11 vehicles. Identified as an American by his license plate and language, he was pursued and killed in a failed carjacking attempt.

“They chased him down like a dog and shot him, like the cowards they were,” Warren said.

According to Warren, the Biden era’s “failed border policies” created an environment where cartels thrived, viewing the U.S. as vulnerable. He pointed to what he called an “invitation” for mass crossings, exploited by coyotes and cartel members over four years.

“If they made it to the U.S. border, it would be a catch-and-release policy,” he explained.

This system, Warren argued, not only allowed unchecked migration but also enriched certain non-governmental organizations, local agencies, churches, and other groups through donations and federal funding linked to processing migrants. In January 2025, shelters in Pima County, Arizona—where Nicholas had volunteered—shut down, alongside facilities in Texas, California, and New York, signaling the end of a profitable but dangerous cycle.

Warren’s critique extends to Mexico itself, which he labels a “de facto failed state” riddled with cartel influence and eroded public trust in government. He stressed the necessity of unrelenting pressure on these criminal networks and a cultural shift south of the border to curb the violence spilling over and claiming American lives.

Yet amid the grief, Warren sees a turning point under President Trump, whose administration has prioritized cracking down on organized crime. Actions tied to Nicholas’s case include sanctions against the children of notorious Sinaloa leader “El Chapo” and their fentanyl-trafficking faction, Los Chapitos, as well as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest of cartel affiliate Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. In February 2025, the Trump administration designated groups like the Sinaloa Cartel as foreign terrorist organizations, paving the way for more aggressive measures.

Recent developments underscore Trump’s commitment to restoring security. In early August 2025, reports emerged that the president had authorized military operations against Latin American drug cartels, including potential strikes on their operations. The U.S. military announced the deployment of over 4,000 additional troops to waters near the Caribbean and Latin America to support anti-cartel missions. Under pressure from these efforts, Mexico extradited 26 accused cartel members wanted by U.S. authorities in a deal struck just days ago.

The impact at the border is undeniable. U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks reported a record low of 4,399 apprehensions at the southwest border in July 2025, with zero releases for the third straight month—a sharp contrast to the peak of 249,785 apprehensions in December 2023 under Biden, when most encounters resulted in releases into the U.S. This dramatic turnaround averages out to just 141 apprehensions per day, highlighting how decisive leadership can seal vulnerabilities that cartels once exploited.

Warren credits Trump directly for these changes and for sending a clear deterrent message worldwide. “There is a message that targeting U.S. citizens any place in the world is no longer acceptable and comes with consequences. President Trump, you know, he’s directly responsible for sending that message, and that message is working,” he stated.

On a personal note, Warren expressed deep appreciation for Trump’s support. “[Trump has] been great to my family. He’s kept in touch with us. His administration kept in touch with us. He’s treated us like his family. And I think he would do that for anybody in this situation. I don’t think it’s particular to me. So, I’m grateful for that. You know, Nick will not die in vain because Nick is now the reason for many of these changes.”

The Quets family’s story is a call to action for conservatives who have long warned about the perils of weak borders. As Trump continues to dismantle the cartels’ grip, Americans can finally see a path toward true safety and justice—one that honors sacrifices like Nicholas’s and prevents future tragedies.