Increased Attention on Drone Threats at the U.S.-Mexico Border
The issue of cartel drone activities along the U.S.-Mexico border—estimated between 40,000 and 60,000 incidents annually—has been mostly overlooked by the current administration. The airspace closure over El Paso on February 10 has, however, sparked urgent discussions about the drone threat and highlights challenges facing the administration.
According to reports, on February 10, incursions by cartel drones led to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that restricted aircraft operations in El Paso and parts of eastern New Mexico. This effectively grounded all air traffic to and from El Paso International Airport, a move that frustrated local, state, and federal officials who felt there was inadequate communication prior to the closure.
The NOTAM was lifted in under eight hours, but not before Transport Secretary Sean Duffy posted on social media about the situation. Duffy indicated that the drone threat had been managed, assuring that there was no danger to commercial flights in the region.
However, Duffy’s announcement didn’t address the extensive actions that the Trump administration is reportedly taking to tackle the longstanding issues posed by cartel drones.
Following a presidential order initiated by Trump, concrete steps to address the drone threat have started. The order, titled “Restoring America’s Air Sovereignty,” was announced in June 2025. In it, Trump highlighted serious threats from criminals and terrorists employing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) against the U.S.
He articulated the dangers posed by these systems, stating that drug cartels use drones not only for smuggling drugs but also for monitoring law enforcement and targeting large gatherings. Critical infrastructures, including military bases, face frequent drone intrusions, leading to urgent calls for action to protect U.S. airspace.
The order also mandates government officials to enhance anti-UAS capabilities and reinforces ongoing efforts at the southwest border as part of a broader border security initiative. To bolster these measures, military forces were deployed to assist U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in detecting UAS threats.
A radar unit from the Mountain Division was deployed specifically for this purpose. They utilized advanced radar technologies, historically used in combat, now applied for homeland defense. This included the AN/TPQ-53 radar, which can detect rocket and mortar launches, as well as the AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar, designed for tracking low-flying aircraft and UAS threats.
Tackling the challenge of drone intrusion is intricate, particularly regarding how to neutralize suspicious drones without endangering legitimate air traffic near border areas.
In April, Mark Roosevelt Ditlefson, an assistant secretary of defense, testified to Congress about the complexities of implementing counter-drone operations in civil airspace. He noted that techniques effective in combat zones aren’t suitable for domestic use, mainly due to the intelligence required for such operations and the risks of collateral damage.
Ditlefson also pointed out improvements in the Army’s understanding of the UAS threats and recommended ongoing collaborative efforts to address them.
The threats posed by cartel drones include surveillance of U.S. law enforcement and the aerial transport of illegal substances. Some reports even mention the use of weaponized drones in attacks against military and law enforcement in Mexico.
The Army’s Department seeks to meet these challenges through the Drone Dominance Program, aimed at improving capabilities against UAS threats. In a memo, Army Secretary Pete Hegseth described drones as a significant recent battlefield innovation that has notably impacted conflicts like the war in Ukraine.
This program includes inviting vendors to participate in acquiring cost-effective unmanned attack drones and innovative counter-UAS solutions to mitigate the threats at the Southwest border.
While the airspace closure in El Paso was marred by miscommunication, it marks a pivotal moment in the administration’s efforts to finally confront the drone threat that has been largely neglected in the past.
