Overview

• Mexican drug cartels have authorized the use of drones equipped with explosives to target U.S. Border Patrol and military personnel along the southern border.
• An internal memo, titled 'Officer Safety Alert,' advises agents to remain vigilant, wear body armor, and keep rifles readily available while on patrol.
• Social media posts linked to the cartels encourage harmful acts against U.S. immigration officers, including spitting in food, defecating in vehicles, and assassination attempts.
• Recent gunfire exchanges between cartel members and U.S. Border Patrol agents in Texas highlight escalating violence at the border.
• The Trump administration has deployed thousands of troops and intensified deportation raids, prompting cartels to retaliate as their smuggling operations face increased disruption.