U.S. Border Patrol, Mexican cartel trade gunfire at southern border

By David Propper, Emily Crane, and Jennie Taer, NY Post – January 28, 2025

Suspected Mexican cartel members were caught on video opening fire on U.S. Border Patrol agents near the southern border Monday—just as a group of migrants reportedly tried to enter the U.S. illegally, authorities said.

The dramatic attack unfolded at about 1:30 p.m. near Fronton, Texas, Customs and Border Protection said in a statement

The apparent cartel members had started firing as the group of migrants were trying to cross the Rio Grande, Border Patrol sources told The Post.

A Border Patrol agent responded by firing a single shot back toward the Mexican side, said sources.

“DPS responded to assist the U.S. Border Patrol after agents received gunfire from cartel members in Mexico while patrolling in Fronton,” Lt. Chris Olivarez posted on X alongside a slew of videos showing the heavily armed gunman.

“DPS drone operators captured the gunmen fleeing Mexico due to military presence and seeking refuge on an island between the U.S. and Mexico,” he added.

The footage showed at least four gun-toting men walking along the river bank and trying to seek cover in the shrubs as the drone tracked them.

Several were repeatedly caught aiming their weapons directly at the drone, the clips show.

An alleged cartel member aiming at an American drone. @LtChrisOlivarez/X

“The State of Texas will continue to monitor the area closely and use every resource available to prevent transnational threats to our law enforcement partners and the homeland,” Olivarez said.

The scene where the shooting took place remained active with the Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility, DHS Office of Inspector General, the FBI and Texas Department of Public Safety all involved in the probe, CBP said late Monday.

No injuries were reported, according to authorities.

Meanwhile, the migrants who were trying to cross at the time of the ordeal didn’t make it into the US, per sources.

The shooting comes as President Trump makes cracking down on illegal immigration and fortifying the southern border an early hallmark of his second term in the Oval Office.

US officials said last week the Pentagon would start shipping up to 1,500 active duty troops to the Mexican border to join about 2,200 US National Guard and Reserve personnel already in place.

Trump was also considering sending up to 10,000 troops to the border as part of the country’s effort to seal the borders, the Washington Post reported last week.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it arrested 1,179 people and lodged 853 immigration detainers Monday—a day after it carried out 956 arrests and issued 554 detainers.

TOP PHOTO: Suspected Mexican cartel members shot at US Border Patrol agents at the border near Fronton, Texas. @LtChrisOlivarez/X