El Chapo Guzman is on the loose, and the United States government is responding to his escape from a Mexican prison.

People on both sides of the border breathed a sigh of relief watching El Chapo's arrest last year.

That relief was suddenly taken away.

El Chapo Guzman, the leader of the powerful Sinaloa cartel, has been free and on the run since Saturday night.

He escaped a maximum security prison near Mexico City.

"I feel that he's probably going to go back to his stronghold", said Sheriff Martin Cuellar.

Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar monitors cartel activity in Mexico.
His brother, representative Henry Cuellar says, El Chapo was not extradited to the U.S by Mexico when he was arrested in early 2014.

He points to a tradition of sovereignty, history and pride. He says it's frustrating.

"Because they said we can take care of him, and in fact he's not going to getting out for three to four-hundred years", said Henry Cuellar.

Sheriff Cuellar says homeland security investigations and the drug enforcement agency can help find Guzman.

He says they helped capture him last year.

"If they United States gets involved, I think we will", said Martin Cuellar

White house press Secretary Josh Earnest addressed the media Monday.

He says the offer from the U.S. Department of justice is on the table.

"To offer the full support of the United States government to the Mexican government as they undertake an operation to try to recapture", said Earnest.

Congressman Cuellar calls for Mexico to reconsider an extradition.

"Is that this time the Mexicans will honor the U.S. extradition request", said Cuellar.

The former Forbes dirty-money billionaire coordinated the building of a one-mile tunnel from a cell to a farm house.

Some estimate it was all worth three to five million dollars.

People are asking if Guzman will look to take over the drug trade route in Nuevo Laredo.

"We understand that the zetas are in charge as of now", said Sheriff Cuellar.

Sheriff Cuellar doesn't think so.

"They'll start pointing fingers to see where he's at. Why? Because he's the competition", said Sheriff Cuellar.

But he says it's best to look out.

Things are always changing in the struggle to control the drug trade and a powerful man is on the loose.

This is Chapo Guzman's second escape.

Since his last capture he eluded authorities for more than ten years.

Now dozens of prison officials are being questioned, as some hope to find him.

Congressman Henry Cuellar says Guzman faces several charges in the U.S. for drug trafficking and organized crime.

http://www.kgns.tv/news/headlines/What-does-El-Chapos-escape-mean-for-border-cities-314622431.html