Amid a renewed border security push by the Trump administration, Mexican drug cartels are reportedly resorting to dangerous tactics, including using drones armed with explosives to target U.S. Border Patrol agents. An internal memo, labeled "Officer Safety Alert," cautioned agents about this threat, citing social media posts and other intelligence sources. Agents were advised to increase vigilance, wear ballistic armor, and utilize their long firearms.
The memo, obtained by the New York Post, details how cartel leadership has sanctioned the use of explosive-laden drones against both Border Patrol agents and U.S. military personnel stationed along the border. It urges personnel to immediately report any drone sightings to their superiors and the El Paso Sector Intelligence and Operations Center.
News Nation, which initially reported on the memo, also highlighted alarming social media posts by cartels encouraging illegal immigrants to harass ICE agents. These posts even incite violence against border personnel.
This alarming development follows a recent incident where Border Patrol agents came under fire from cartel members while patrolling in Fronton, Texas. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the cartel members had crossed into the U.S. seeking refuge from a military presence in Mexico.
The heightened cartel activity coincides with the Trump administration's intensified deportation efforts targeting illegal immigrants with criminal records and its implementation of stricter border security measures. The memo suggests that cartel leaders see these actions as a threat to their lucrative drug and human smuggling operations.
In response to the escalating cartel threat, Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) proposed a controversial solution: authorizing private entities to target cartel operations for profit. This approach, he argued, could reduce taxpayer burden by allowing privateers to keep a portion of seized assets.
