Cartel Fires on Border Patrol - Texas Troops & Troopers Rush to Area
State Department issues a "Do Not Travel" advisory from Texas into Tamaulipas, Mexico
A shooting war across the Rio Grande between Mexican Cartel Gunmen and US Border Patrol Agents broke out Monday - resulting in Texas rushing law enforcement officers to the scene and sending "Texas Tactical Border Force" National Guardsmen to reinforce troops and State Troopers assigned to South Texas as part of its "Operation Lone Star" border security mission.
This section of the border has become so volatile that the US State Department issued a "Do Not Travel" advisory on the same day, warning its citizens not to cross into the Mexican state of Tamaulipas from Texas due to cartel violence - including bombs planted on Mexican roadways there.
There is a lot to unpack here - beginning with that cross-border gunfight between US Federal Officers and a Mexican Cartel. Here's what we know:
First, it's important to note that no one was injured in the exchange of gunfire, which occurred in Starr County around 1:30 pm on Monday, January 27, 2025. Cartel Gunmen in Mexico opened fire on the Border Patrol Agents (who shot back) at a well-known illegal smuggling crossing point at Fronton, Texas, near what some call "Cartel Island."
NewsNation's Ali Bradley says her sources tell her the cartel was attempting to move migrants from Mexico across the Rio Grande when the Border Patrol arrived to block them from the U.S. side.
The Washington Examiner's Anna Giaritelli says two law-enforcement sources have told her that "the Mexican cartels as of January 21, (2025) put a "green light" to open fire on U.S. federal law enforcement in retaliation for the border crackdown in Washington that Trump has waged."
In addition to capturing video of the cartel gunmen appearing to attempt to shoot down one of their drones, the Texas Department of Public Safety also observed Mexican soldiers responding to the shooting scene on their side of the river.
The gunmen fled following the brief shoot-out. Newsnation's Jorge Ventura - who was one of the first journalists to respond to the scene - reports that none of the migrants the cartel was attempting to smuggle made it across the river into Texas.
As the security situation deteriorated in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Monday sent a 400-strong "Texas Tactical Border Force" of National Guard Soldiers to back up the Border Patrol as well as its state law enforcement officers there.
On the same day, the US State Department issued a "Level 4 - Do Not Travel Warning" to US Citizens not to cross into the Mexican State of Tamaulipas (which is just across the Rio Grande from the shoot-out scene) due to the increasing levels of cartel violence there.
The State of Tamaulipas earlier this month warned its citizens to look out for - and not touch - Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) the Cartel del Noreste (CDN/Zetas) & Cartel del Golfo (CDN) placed on roadways there.
On Thursday, January 23, 2025, the US State Department reported that a cartel IED destroyed a Government of Mexico (Conagua) official vehicle in Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, and injured the driver:
That was cited by the US State Department as a factor in issuing the "Do Not Travel" (to Tamaulipas, Mexico) Advisory to US citizens:
Despite the grim security situation along this stretch of the border, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a series of recent statements that are optimistic about securing it:
"After four years of failed policies, Texas finally has a partner in President Trump. Together, we will end this crisis and make America safe once again... the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard continue to work together with the Trump Administration to secure the border, stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal activity between ports of entry." -Texas Governor Greg Abbott
What are your thoughts about the security situation along the US-Mexico Southern Border?
Share your opinion in the comments on this article!
Share your opinion in the comments on this article!
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
