U.S. officials confirmed that the military shot down what was later identified as a party balloon near El Paso, Texas, earlier this week. Initially, it was suspected to be a foreign drone.
This misidentification resulted in the complete closure of airspace around El Paso Airport. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated her government had no information to suggest any drone activity along the U.S.-Mexico border, following temporary airspace restrictions in Texas that U.S. authorities associated with measures against drones.
In a press conference, Sheinbaum emphasized, “There is no information indicating any drone activity along the border. If the FAA or any U.S. government agency has relevant information, they can contact the Mexican government directly.” She added that Mexico’s airspace remained open.
“We will consider the specific reason for the temporary closure,” she said, indicating a commitment to transparency.
A U.S. government official, meanwhile, mentioned that a drone from a Mexican cartel had violated U.S. airspace near El Paso, prompting countermeasures to neutralize it. On Wednesday morning, the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily restricted flights in and out of El Paso International Airport, citing “special safety reasons.” This was rather unusual as such restrictions are typically reserved for emergencies and usually last a shorter duration.
After the initial restrictions, however, the FAA and the Department of the Army later reopened the airspace, declaring that there was “no threat to commercial travel.” In recent months, U.S. authorities have raised alarms about drug cartels increasingly using unmanned aircraft systems for surveillance and smuggling activities along the southern border.
This incident occurs amid rising tensions regarding cross-border security. The Trump administration is urging local governments to enhance their cooperation to counter drug cartels and fentanyl trafficking networks, which officials consider a direct threat to national security.
Sheinbaum has consistently rejected U.S. proposals for military intervention in Mexico to combat cartels. In a conversation last month, she recounted a proposal from Trump for military assistance, saying, “We told him that we didn’t need that because things were going very well so far.” She underscored Mexico’s commitment to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Trump reportedly understood her position.
