Gunfire Exchange Between US Border Patrol and Mexican Cartel Members “`

Border patrol agents in south Texas exchanged gunfire with suspected cartel members during a failed illegal border crossing attempt. This incident coincides with intensified deportation efforts.

Reports indicate that US Border Patrol agents came under fire from suspected Mexican cartel gunmen in southern Texas while intercepting an illegal border crossing. This event follows President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the border and the subsequent deployment of military personnel to several border crossings, coupled with plans to deport potentially millions of undocumented immigrants.

“Border Patrol agents near Fronton, [Texas] were fired upon from [Mexico] by suspected cartel gunmen while a group of illegal aliens were being escorted across the river,” Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin reported Monday afternoon, citing multiple law enforcement sources.

“I understand [Border Patrol] returned fire; there were no reported casualties on either side, and the illegal aliens did not successfully cross,” Melugin added.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) spokesman Lieutenant Chris Olivarez, the Mexican military has responded with armored vehicles and surveillance drones across the Rio Grande.

Such responses are typical, according to Melugin, who stated that the Mexican military sometimes “responds aggressively if the gunmen are still present” and that he has witnessed “remarkable drone footage” from the DPS over the years captured from the US side.

Fronton, a small community of fewer than 200 residents near the US-Mexico border, is situated across the river from the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, a region known for its presence of powerful drug and human trafficking cartels. The Gulf Cartel (CDG) and its offshoots, including Los Zetas, have historically dominated the area, although the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) and Sinaloa cartels have expanded their influence in recent years.

Upon taking office, President Trump instructed the US State Department, Treasury, Justice, Homeland Security, and the intelligence community to prepare for designating the cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations.” These designations are anticipated by mid-February at the earliest.

Texas has invested in strengthening border security around Fronton in recent years, citing the federal government’s perceived failure to effectively curb illegal crossings. The previous administration maintained that border enforcement was solely a federal responsibility and blocked state-led initiatives in this area.