U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzalez Highlights UAS Defense Needs Along Mexico Border

U.S. Representative Tony Gonzalez, a Republican from Texas, emphasized the urgent need to bolster defenses against unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) along the U.S.-Mexico border. This comes after the federal government restricted airspace in parts of his district on Tuesday night. Gonzalez indicated that he is actively seeking improvements through funding and educational initiatives.

In a conversation with Breitbart Texas on Wednesday morning, he noted that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) had limited air operations over El Paso and sections of eastern New Mexico due to incursions from cartel drones. Although the NOTAM for El Paso was lifted soon after, Gonzalez voiced concerns about the increasing prevalence of these drone incidents in the border region, underscoring the seriousness of the threat.

“The threat is real and we’re aware of it,” Gonzalez remarked. “Border Patrol recognizes this concern, but they lack the necessary tools to address it.” He specifically referenced the recent airspace closures and expressed that communication to the public regarding such incidents could have been handled more effectively.

“We really needed better communication, especially in border areas where drone activity is more common,” he pointed out. “It’s important we empower our military and law enforcement to quickly address UAS threats while ensuring community safety.”

Breitbart Texas reported previously that there has been no detailed information released about the Mexican cartel’s drone movements within El Paso airspace. The use of weaponized drones by drug cartels for attacking Mexican authorities and monitoring police activities on both sides of the border has been widely documented.

Gonzalez indicated that efforts are in progress to enhance unmanned aircraft defenses at the border and expressed optimism for improvement. “We’re aiming to strengthen our anti-UAS capabilities through funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which has allocated $500 million to mitigate UAS threats at our borders and beyond,” he noted.

Furthermore, border lawmakers have secured funding for the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) to develop a Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Drone Workforce Development Center. This initiative focuses on expanding specialized training in drone operations and counter-drone tactics.

The UTEP center will provide hands-on education tailored to drone technology specific to border conditions, Gonzalez explained.

Moreover, additional funding is also designated for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes $1.5 billion aimed at procuring technologies to detect, track, identify, and counter UAS threats.