US Border Patrol Agents Exchange Gunfire With Mexico Drug Cartel: Reports

U.S. Border Patrol agents near Fronton, Texas, reportedly exchanged gunfire at the southern border with suspected drug cartel gunmen from Mexico.

There were no injuries in the incident near Fronton Island, an uninhabited island in the Rio Grande in Starr County, Texas, according to reports. The island is a disputed territory about which Texas and Mexico have made conflicting ownership claims.

"On January 27, 2025, at approximately 1:29pm, BPAs reported shots fired in Fronton, Texas," a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson told Newsweek in a Monday statement. "The scene remains active; no injuries have been reported. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility, Texas Department of Public Safety, DHS Office of Inspector General and FBI are at the scene."

Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and the Texas Department of Public Safety via email for comment.

Why It Matters

NewsNation's Ali Bradley reported that while the suspected cartel has fired shots from the Mexican side of the territory for years, things in the area have escalated "in unprecedented ways since President [Donald] Trump was elected—Even giving orders to shoot at agents recently."

Since taking office last week, Trump has issued a massive crackdown on illegal immigration, signing a slew of executive orders that have paved the way for mass deportations and the return of some of his first-term policies. Among those orders is one that designates Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

Border Patrol Gunmen Cartel
A U.S. Border Patrol officer deploys on the Rio Grande on a patrol of the U.S.-Mexico border at Eagle Pass, Texas, on January 24, 2025. Charly Triballeau/Getty Images

Trump made immigration a central theme of his successful presidential campaign, and Americans largely support his mass deportation plans. A New York Times/Ipsos poll from January 2 to 10 found 55 percent of voters strongly or somewhat supported such plans. Eighty-eight percent supported "Deporting immigrants who are here illegally and have criminal records." Large majorities of both Democrats and Republicans agreed that the immigration system is broken.

What To Know

"Per multiple law enforcement sources, within the last hour, Border Patrol agents near Fronton, TX were fired upon from MX by suspected cartel gunmen as a group of illegal aliens were being brought across the river. I'm told BP returned fire, nobody hit on either side, and that the illegal aliens did not make it across," Fox News's Bill Melugin reported on X, formerly Twitter.

Melugin also reported that the Texas Department of Public Safety is patrolling the area and has a drone in the air. Mexican military assets are reportedly staging on the other side of the river.

Around the time that the news broke, Texas Governor Greg Abbott posted a video of the Texas Tactical Border Force being deployed to the Rio Grande Valley to assist with Border Patrol agents.

Jorge Ventura, a national correspondent for NewsNation, posted a video at the scene, saying he saw at least three law enforcement agencies, including deputies from the Starr County Sheriff's Office, Texas state troopers and Border Patrol agents, responding to the incident. Authorities told Ventura that it was "still a dangerous and fluid situation."

What People Are Saying

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, on X: "Texas is working closely with the Trump Administration to secure the border and make America safe again."

Dawn Buckingham, the land commissioner of Texas, to Fox News Digital in 2023: "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."

President Donald Trump, in an executive order last week: "Enforcing our Nation's immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States. The American people deserve a Federal Government that puts their interests first and a Government that understands its sacred obligation to prioritize the safety, security, and financial and economic well-being of Americans."

What's Next

Customs and Border Patrol has not issued a public statement at this time.

Update 1/27/25, 5:28 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

Update 1/27/25, 5:56 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

Update 1/27/25, 6:09 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

Update 1/27/25, 6:36 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

Update 1/28/25, 10:07 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

About the writer

Gabe Whisnant is Deputy Weekend Editor at Newsweek based in South Carolina. Prior to joining Newsweek in 2023, he directed daily publications in North and South Carolina. As an executive editor, Gabe led award-winning coverage of Charleston church shooter Dylan Roof's capture in 2015, along with coverage of the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. You can get in touch with Gabe by emailing g.whisnant@newsweek.com. Find him on Twitter @GabeWhisnant.

and

Katherine Fung is a Newsweek senior reporter based in New York City. She has covered U.S. politics and culture extensively. Katherine joined Newsweek in 2020. She is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario and obtained her Master's degree from New York University. You can get in touch with Katherine by emailing k.fung@newsweek.com. Languages: English


Gabe Whisnant is Deputy Weekend Editor at Newsweek based in South Carolina. Prior to joining Newsweek in 2023, he directed ... Read more