Newsweek reported that former Mexican drug cartel member Jesse Ocana compared the people behind his former profession to progressive-leaning billionaire philanthropist and political donor George Soros.

When asked by Fox News presenter Bill Hemmer in an interview on Wednesday (Jan. 31) if the US and Mexican governments should work together to take out the cartels, he replied that it could be done, but it would be difficult due to the cartels "[having] a lot of money."

"They can buy you. You can say they're like Soros. They can buy people out," he said. "If you're a governor, a senator, and if you're a big man in government, they can still buy you out."

The comments were made as the US government has been struggling to protect the southern border and tackle the migrant issue, particularly in the state of Texas.

Read Also: Razor Wire to Be Removed From US-Mexico Border, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Vows "To Defend Texas' Property"

Ex-Cartel Member Compares Mexican Gangs to George Soros
(Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

Mexican Cartel Violence Block Tourists from Visiting Mayan Ruins

Meanwhile, multiple ancient Mayan ruins in Mexico have been inaccessible due to cartel violence since last year, which discouraged tourists from visiting the country's southern state of Chiapas, near the border with Guatemala.

The Mexican government admitted that tourists could no longer get to at least two of the popular Mayan ruins - Yaxchilán and Tonina - with tour guides in Chiapas telling the Associated Press that additional ruins the government claimed to be open were only accessible by passing through gang-controlled checkpoints.

Related Article: [UPDATE] Texas Border Dispute: Ken Paxton Says State Will Not Comply With Supreme Court Ruling