Gunfire Erupts On Southern Border

Gunfire exchanged between U.S. Border Patrol agents and suspected cartel gunmen near Fronton, Texas, highlights the continued volatility along the southern border. This confrontation occurred as agents intercepted a group of migrants attempting to cross the Rio Grande. The suspected cartel gunmen, firing from the Mexican side, prompted agents to return fire, effectively preventing the migrants from entering U.S. territory. No injuries were reported, but the situation underscores the risks law enforcement faces in the region.

This incident comes as illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border have reached historic lows under the new administration, according to Fox News.

The gunfire exchange – which happened exactly one week after President Donald Trump began ramping up border security on his first day in office – occurred at around 2 p.m. local time near Fronton, Texas.

A group of illegal aliens was attempting to cross the Rio Grande while bullets were fired, but did not make it across. Neither the Border Patrol agents nor the suspected cartel members were hit.

The area where the gunfire exchange took place is near Fronton Island, also unofficially known as “Cartel Island” due to the criminal activity there. In an interview with Fox News Digital in 2023, Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said that she declared the land as Texas territory – even though it had not officially been before – to grant law enforcement the right to patrol there.

“One of the things that the General Land Office does is determine the center of a waterway,” Buckingham said at the time. “Everything that is the center of the Rio Grande and north, of course, the state of Texas and the United States territory.”

“The land just hadn’t been accurately declared as it was forming in the river. That’s why we had to step in and officially declare it Texas territory.”

Shortly after his inauguration, President Donald Trump announced plans to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, framing it as part of a “revolution of common sense” to combat threats posed by their control over illegal traffic across the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump signed an executive order emphasizing the cartels’ quasi-governmental control in parts of Mexico, directing the secretary of state to identify specific groups for the designation. Although previous U.S. presidents considered such a move, they refrained due to strong Mexican opposition, which centers on potential economic and sovereignty-related repercussions. Critics argue the terrorist label could strain U.S.-Mexico relations and complicate bilateral cooperation.

The proposed designation aims to enhance U.S. legal and military tools against cartels, including expanded prosecution of those providing material support and greater intelligence collection capabilities. However, it raises concerns about collateral effects, such as targeting legitimate businesses inadvertently entangled with cartel operations and complicating cross-border trade and investments. Mexican officials strongly oppose the move, citing risks of U.S. military intervention and the negative impact on Mexico’s image and economy. Experts advocate for a more comprehensive approach to tackling the drug crisis, focusing on reducing demand and disrupting financial networks rather than relying on military-centric strategies.

As the administration implements its border policies, the border has seen a significant drop in crossings. Local, state, and federal agencies remain on high alert, collaborating to secure the border and respond to evolving threats. The interplay between declining crossings and persistent cartel activity paints a complex picture of progress and ongoing challenges.

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