State and federal officials are investigating death threats made to Hudspeth County sheriff’s deputies after a border standoff.

The Jan. 23 confrontation with suspected drug smugglers, who torched an SUV to flee to Mexico, has drawn international attention.

Sheriff Arvin West says at least two deputies were told to "stay off the river" or they and their families would be killed.

West says the threats came from men authorities believe were connected to last month's armed border standoff.

West says suspected drug traffickers know his 12 deputies.

KTSM television reported that three men in a car with Mexican license plates threatened a sergeant’s wife at her home last week.

West was among a contingent of Texas lawmen who testified this week in Washington at a congressional hearing about Mexican military incursions into the U.S.

Members of the state’s Congressional delegation heard from members of the Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition Wednesday in Washington about concerns related to border security.

Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-San Antonio, organized the meeting.

"The threat of terrorism is real as hundreds of illegal aliens invade our border communities each day,” Bonilla said.

“Recently we have witnessed the violence and fear created by the ruthless members of drug cartels. We must not allow terrorists and criminals from around the world to use the southwest border as a revolving door," he said.