Border security tensions have reached alarming new heights as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has confirmed that Mexican drug cartels have authorized the use of weaponized drones and explosives against ICE agents and other law enforcement officials at the southern border.
Cartels Escalate Threats Against Border Officers
According to internal CBP memos obtained by News Nation, cartels operating in the Rio Grande Valley sector have explicitly sanctioned the deployment of explosives-laden drones against U.S. law enforcement. The threat comes amid heightened enforcement activities under President Trump’s mass deportation initiative.
“This is a major increase in the threat to the United States,” a border security expert told Focus Point News. “The use of weaponized drones represents a significant tactical escalation by cartels who are feeling the pressure from recent enforcement actions.”
The internal memos warn officers to “be cognizant of their surroundings” and emphasize that agents should be “wearing their ballistic armor and utilizing their long firearms” while on duty. This directive underscores the seriousness with which federal authorities are taking these threats.
Social Media Threats Further Inflame Tensions
The drone threat is just one aspect of a broader campaign of intimidation. One of the CBP memos references several social media posts containing explicit threats against ICE agents. These include:
- Posts encouraging people to “assassinate ICE police”
- TikTok videos instructing immigrants to contaminate ICE agents’ food and vandalize their vehicles
- Messages calling for violence against local ICE agents
Representative Glenn Ivey, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, noted that while weaponized drones have become increasingly common in warfare scenarios, their potential deployment at the U.S. border marks a concerning development.
Recent Border Violence Sets the Stage
This escalation follows a shootout between Border Patrol agents and cartel members in Fronton, Texas earlier this week. On Monday, shots were fired from the Mexican side of the border at U.S. agents, who took cover and returned fire. Drone footage from the Texas Department of Public Safety showed suspected cartel members fleeing after the exchange. Fortunately, no injuries were reported on either side.
In response to the increasing violence, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has deployed 400 additional Texas National Guard troops to the Rio Grande Valley. These reinforcements, from the Texas Tactical Border Force unit, arrived in McAllen on Monday to support ongoing border security operations.
IEDs and Travel Warnings
The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 4 warning for government personnel and U.S. citizens, advising against travel to the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, which borders Texas along the Rio Grande. The warning specifically mentions the discovery of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along roads in several cities including Rosa, Rio Bravo, Valle Hermoso, and San Fernando.
“Cartel Del Golfo and Cartel Del Noreste have been setting up improvised explosive devices in the ground on these little back roads where most of these cartel operations happen,” explained a security expert familiar with the region. The cartels reportedly use Tox, a readily available mining explosive, for their IEDs—a tactic they’ve employed since 2010.
Deportation Operations Continue Despite Threats
The threats come as ICE continues to execute what officials describe as the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history, targeting individuals in the country illegally with emphasis on those with criminal records.
Tom Homan, the senior official overseeing the deportation effort, told reporters that leaked information about targeted operations has forced authorities to pivot their strategies to ensure officer safety.
“We’ve got many targeted cities, but I’m not going to share them with you because we got to keep our officers safe,” Homan stated. “In fact, Chicago—that operation was leaked, so we had to reschedule that one. We need an element of surprise because of officer safety issues. We don’t want the bad guys to know we’re coming.”
False Rumors Complicate Enforcement Efforts
Adding to the complex situation are widespread false rumors about ICE activities that have sparked panic in immigrant communities across the country. Misinformation has spread rapidly through social media, with false reports of ICE raids at schools and hospitals causing unnecessary fear and disruption.
In Chicago, a false report about ICE officers at an elementary school was shared in news reports and referenced by the governor. Philadelphia’s school district had to release a statement denying that ICE had entered schools after similar rumors spread. In San Francisco, a middle schooler’s claim of encountering an ICE agent on a city bus triggered panic among parents.
“Misinformation is really dangerous because it creates panic and chaos in any community, and immigrant communities are no different,” said Kay Cruz, co-executive director of the Asylum Seekers Advocacy Project.
Executive Order on Anti-Semitism
This border security situation unfolds against the backdrop of another significant immigration enforcement development. On Wednesday, President Trump signed an executive order outlining a broad federal crackdown on anti-Semitism, particularly on college campuses. The order indicates the administration will cancel visas of foreign students deemed to be Hamas sympathizers and deport pro-jihadist protesters.
“We put you on notice. Come 2025, we will find you and we will deport you,” read a White House fact sheet about the order.
The executive order cites what it calls an “unprecedented wave of vile anti-Semitism, discrimination, vandalism, and violence” and directs all U.S. department and agency heads to develop new methods to combat anti-Semitism within the next 60 days.
What’s Next for Border Security?
As tensions escalate along the southern border, both federal and state authorities are enhancing security measures to protect ICE agents and Border Patrol officers. The authorization of weaponized drones by cartels marks a significant escalation that will likely prompt a reevaluation of border security tactics and protective measures for law enforcement personnel.
For now, officers have been instructed to remain vigilant, wear protective gear, and be prepared for potential drone attacks while continuing deportation operations—albeit with adjusted strategies to maintain the element of surprise.
