Amanda Adame, a fourth-generation rancher in New Mexico, expresses growing unease about her family's safety due to unchecked migrant crossings and cartel activity on her property, located just eight miles from the US-Mexico border. Despite the Biden administration's reports of decreased migrant encounters, Adame's concerns remain heightened.

While overall migrant encounters have reportedly decreased since the end of Title 42, apprehensions of individuals on the FBI's terror watchlist have reached record levels. Adame emphasizes that her primary concern is not large groups of migrants, but rather the presence of cartel members exploiting the current border situation.

Adame and her husband have occasionally provided assistance to migrants in need, but their children's safety remains their top priority. She recounts a chilling incident in 2013, when she was alone with her eight-month-old baby and observed a group of migrants carrying rifles.

Adame distinguishes between migrants seeking better lives through official ports of entry and those traversing her ranch, whom she suspects are criminals attempting to avoid detection. She believes these individuals are involved in drug trafficking, highlighting the significant increase in fentanyl seizures along the southern border.

Adame expresses concern that these individuals can easily disappear into major cities, potentially contributing to unsolved crimes. She also voices her hesitation to contact Border Patrol due to fears of cartel retaliation, given the isolated location of her ranch.

Adame's story sheds light on the complex realities faced by those living near the US-Mexico border, where concerns about safety and security persist despite government reports of improved border control measures.