Many readers are under the mistaken belief that the drug violence and MS-13 are a product of México or Central America. Forget the argument about American drug consumers for a moment and let us focus on drug violence and terrorism. Terrorism, because the national debate has made border security an element of the debate.

MS-13, the Barrio Aztecas – who were the killers killing Mexicans in Cd. Juárez – and other killers working for the drug cartels are either American or American incubated. That is the inconvenient truth often ignored. When the stories get told the Mexican component or Central American nexus are emphasized and the American connection is often ignored. When a story does not fit the ongoing narrative, it is ignored by those that love to post MS-13 violence pictures and narratives or push forth false narratives of terrorists crossing the Mexican border to do mayhem in the United States. Never mind that to this day there is yet no proof that any terrorist used the U.S.-Mexican border to cross. But the narrative persists.

On January 6, 2017 Zia Zafar disguised himself with a wig and sun glasses. Zafar stalked the Vice Consul of the United States in Guadalajara and shot him with a pistol. México, an Arabic-sounding name and an attack on a U.S. official would make the headlines of the Breitbart’s of the world. It would go a long way on the narrative about how Mexicans are a danger to Americans.

Watch the surveillance video of the shooting:

The truth got in the way of the narrative and thus the ‘perfect’ story of border security didn’t make national headlines, although Zia Zafar attempted to kill an American official in México.

Zafar, a native of India, became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He moved to Guadalajara in November of 2016. According to the criminal complaint:

On January 6, 2017, Christopher Ashcraft, the American Vice Consul attached to the United States Consulate in Guadalajara was shot by Zafar as Ashcraft exited his gym at about six in the afternoon. Ashcraft, who was shot in the chest, was treated in a Guadalajara hospital for his injuries. He survived.

The criminal complaint goes on to state that Zafar was identified by Mexican law enforcement through video surveillance from the parking garage and a local Starbucks. Zafar had paid for his drink with a credit card at Starbucks.

With that information, Mexican law enforcement searched the Mexican immigration databases and noted that Zafar was in México on a student visa. The Mexican government arrested Zia Zafar on January 7. During the search of his apartment, they found a gun, a wig and sunglasses that matched those on the surveillance video. On January 8, Zia Zafar was deported by Mexican officials and turned over to the United States government for prosecution.

On July 13, 2018, the United States Department of Justice issued a press release announcing that Zia Zafar, an American citizen from Chino Hills, California had pleaded guilty to “one count of attempted murder of an internationally protected person and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.” He will be sentenced on November 7, 2018.

According to the DOJ press release, Zafar “targeted and shot” Ashcraft “because he represented the United States.”

The important thing to point out from this event is that Mexican officials provided important investigative and logistical support to bring to justice the individual who attempted to kill the American Vice Consul. The Mexican response was professional and efficient in that the attacker was identified, taken into custody and deported to American officials within 72 hours. The evidence collected by Mexican officials forced Zafar to plead guilty.

It was Mexican cooperation that helped bring this case to a close.

But importantly, the criminal, Zia Zafar is not a Mexican nor is he from a Muslim country. He is a terrorist from India. And, he is an American citizen. The crime was perpetuated by an American citizen.

As those are the facts, do not expect to see much about this story because it does not fit the narrative that México is a danger to Americans.