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FLORIDA - FBI Director Kash Patel warned law enforcement in South Florida about rising national security threats from cartels, illegal immigration, and potential Iranian retaliation, urging stronger local-federal intelligence coordination.
Patel addressed law enforcement at the Broward County Conference Center, urging tighter coordination between federal and local agencies to tackle threats ranging from transnational criminal organizations to immigration pressures and possible Iranian backlash.
He stressed that sharing local intelligence is only as good as what comes in from precincts nationwide.
Patel reinforced recent warnings from the Department of Homeland Security about a heightened threat environment inside the United States.
These alerts follow rising concern that Iran may be coordinating sleeper agents for cyberattacks, violent plots or antisemitic incidents.
He noted that federal resources have shifted to address these emergent risks while still maintaining focus on violent crime, human smuggling and drug trafficking, including the growing threat from cartels and a spike in illegal border crossings.
The FBI is reportedly reclassifying major cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a move that allows broader enforcement and prosecution capabilities under counterterrorism statutes.
Despite this reorientation, federal officials emphasize that investigations into espionage, cyber warfare and domestic terror remain top priorities.
Patel urged sheriffs to keep communication lines open in case threats emerge in their jurisdictions, stating that local reporting feeds federal situational awareness.
He affirmed that the agency will continue to enforce immigration laws and respond to criminal activity as it evolves.
Under Patel’s leadership, the bureau appears to be balancing traditional street-level policing with a renewed focus on modern national security threats.