{"id":120688,"date":"2026-02-12T05:00:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T10:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cablemanpro.com\/wallstreetpr\/border-on-the-brink-as-cartel-drones-force-us-to-act-after-years-of-paralysis-120688"},"modified":"2026-02-12T05:00:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T10:00:40","slug":"border-on-the-brink-as-cartel-drones-force-us-to-act-after-years-of-paralysis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cablemanpro.com\/wallstreetpr\/border-on-the-brink-as-cartel-drones-force-us-to-act-after-years-of-paralysis-120688","title":{"rendered":"Border on the brink as cartel drones force US to act after years of paralysis"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The sudden closure of airspace over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday, Feb. 11 was a big deal \u2014 but likely not for the reason you think.<\/p>\n

For years, the Federal Aviation Administration<\/a> has blocked meaningful action against rogue drones \u2014 whether mysterious swarms over sensitive U.S. military bases or increasingly bold incursions by Mexican drug cartels. The FAA\u2019s perennial fear? That military countermeasures, from electronic jamming to kinetic options, might endanger civilian or commercial aircraft.<\/p>\n

This paralysis persisted even as threats mounted.<\/p>\n

MEXICAN CARTEL DRONES BREACH US AIRSPACE, ARE DISABLED BY WAR DEPARTMENT, DUFFY SAYS<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

I wrote about this bureaucratic inaction in October 2024, when unidentified drones \u2014 some up to 20 feet across \u2014 buzzed Langley Air Force Base in Virginia for 17 consecutive nights in late 2023. These intruders flew over the headquarters of Air Combat Command<\/a>, home to F-22 Raptors, and neared the world\u2019s largest naval station in Norfolk and other critical sites. The Biden-Harris White House was briefed, yet nothing was done. Suggestions to jam signals, deploy directed energy or simply shoot them down were rejected as too risky or unauthorized. A risk-averse culture prioritized avoiding mistakes over defending American soil.<\/p>\n

The Feb. 11 incident in El Paso marked a dramatic break from that pattern \u2014 and a significant victory against the growing cartel drone threat<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mexican cartels have grown alarmingly sophisticated in drone operations. Department of Homeland Security data show more than 60,000 cartel drone flights along the border in the second half of 2024 alone \u2014 an average of about 330 per day.<\/p>\n

And these aren\u2019t toys.<\/p>\n

WESTERN HEMISPHERE DEFENSE CHIEFS CONVENE AFTER BORDER DRONE SCARE PROMPTS AIRSPACE CLOSURE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Cartels use them<\/a> for three primary missions along the southern border: counterreconnaissance to track Border Patrol and military positions; aerial denial, deploying swarms to threaten U.S. aircraft and create de facto no-fly zones for smuggling; and direct drug delivery, with some drones carrying large payloads.<\/p>\n

Reports indicate cartel operatives have even traveled to Ukraine, volunteering on the front lines against Russia, to master advanced drone tactics \u2014 including fiber-optic-guided FPV drones immune to jamming. Those same techniques have appeared in Mexico\u2019s cartel wars, with gangs targeting rivals using precision explosives.<\/p>\n

What happened over El Paso? The Department of War claims cartel drones breached U.S. airspace<\/a> near El Paso International Airport<\/a> and, critically, approached sensitive military facilities, stressing an urgent need to act.<\/p>\n

TRUMP SENDS MILITARY AFTER THE CARTELS AND IT\u2019S LONG OVERDUE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

In response, on Tuesday night, according to media reports, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford<\/a> decided to close the airspace for 10 days without alerting the White House, the Pentagon or local officials. Whether on his own or at the urging of career FAA employees, the FAA\u2019s overreaction reeked of malicious compliance \u2014 bureaucrats following the letter of policy while producing an absurd, counterproductive result.<\/p>\n

The Department of War swiftly neutralized the intruders, reportedly at least one cartel drone and, by some accounts, a stray party balloon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the operation: “The FAA and DOW acted swiftly<\/a> to address a cartel drone incursion<\/a>. The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region.”<\/p>\n

FCC ANNOUNCES BAN ON NEW CHINESE-MADE DRONES OVER NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Reacting to the 10-day airspace closure, local leaders, including Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar, highlighted the economic damage it would cause in a border city of nearly 700,000 residents.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, within hours, after officials confirmed the threat had been eliminated, the restrictions were lifted and normal flights resumed. Common sense prevailed \u2014 for now.<\/p>\n

This incident comes amid intense pressure from the Trump administration<\/a> on Mexico\u2019s president, Claudia Sheinbaum<\/a>, and her ruling Morena party. With Venezuela and Cuba \u2014 which Mexico provided energy and financial support to in exchange for authoritarian governance lessons \u2014 now largely neutralized by U.S. policy, and the USMCA trade deal on hold, Sheinbaum faces a stark choice: rein in the cartels or face consequences.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

But cartels must make money, and backing down is not in their nature. Escalation may be on the table. But what if the U.S. hits back?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mexico maintains the world\u2019s largest consular network in the United States \u2014 53 consulates \u2014 that have at times served as hubs for political agitation and influence operations within America\u2019s immigrant communities. Those networks could amplify domestic unrest beyond current disturbances in cities such as Minneapolis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And lurking in the background are America\u2019s adversaries. China and Iran have clear interests in a chaotic southern border \u2014 whether through fentanyl precursors or violent proxy disruption.<\/p>\n

The El Paso action is welcome and long overdue \u2014 another step in last summer\u2019s call by President Donald Trump<\/a> for military action against the cartels<\/a>. But one skirmish does not win a war. America must sustain this momentum: Equip Border Patrol and the military with robust counter-drone authority, streamline rules of engagement and hold Mexico accountable.<\/p>\n

Our sovereignty and security demand nothing less.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM CHUCK DEVORE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Source – https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/opinion\/border-brink-cartel-drones-force-us-act-after-years-paralysis <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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