Only three episodes into ABC’s “Designated Survivor,” starring Kiefer Sutherland, and the stakes have already risen greatly since last season, which is surprising considering this show has had the highest of stakes during every episode since its premiere.

As the drama series goes into its fourth episode, the risks and dangers continue to increase as a dangerous argument between Mexico and America over the handling of their border ensues.

This dispute in episode four of Season 2, titled “Equilibrium,” will have a deadly outcome and President Kirkman (Sutherland) will have to figure out a way to best handle it. It’ll be just another large-scale current issue that he has to deal with because he can’t seem to catch a break, with new problems constantly coming his way.

“Tensions rise between America and Mexico when a Mexican citizen is shot during a border dispute regarding Mexican trade imports,” the show’s official synopsis explains. “And Kirkman and his staff must work quickly to resolve the situation and create a new trade deal.”

“We can’t treat our neighbors as enemies,” President Kirkman says in the trailer for the new episode.

But, it seems like this isn’t the only problem the Kirkman family is dealing with, as Agent Hannah Wells (Maggie Q) is seen telling Alex Kirkman (Natascha McElhone) that she has “circumstantial evidence” about someone related to her.

“That my mother is a criminal,” Alex finishes for Agent Wells.

Alex can then be seen sternly commenting that her “husband is president” to an older woman, who is presumably her mother.

What exactly is Alex’s mother accused of doing? How will President Kirkman handle the border dispute? Will issues with Alex’s mother have adverse effects on the Kirkman presidency?

Hopefully all of these questions will be answered when this episode, which was directed by Joe Lazarov and written by Paul Redford and Keith Eisner, premieres.

If all of that sounds great and exciting, but you’re having a hard time remembering what exactly happened during the last episode, let’s recap.

In Season 2’s third episode, titled “Outbreak,” President Kirkman was dealing with a different type of deadly issue--a viral pandemic of sorts.

This viral contagion, which caused those affected to become unconscious and then begin foaming at the mouth, threatened countless Americans. Though the death toll rose to over 70, a drug was eventually found to save those infected and was distributed all over the country.

Elsewhere, Agent Wells and M16 Agent Damian Rennett (Ben Lawson) discovered that Alex’s mom might be hiding something after they found confusing evidence during a reconnaissance mission. This evidence had the potential to change everything for the presidential family, though fans won't learn how it all plays out, or see if the Kirkmans can find a way to fix this new hurdle, until episode four.

Watch the new episode of “Designated Survivor” on ABC on Wednesday at 10 p.m. EDT.

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