Major Threat: Explosive Drones at US Border

Explosive-laden drones deployed by Mexican drug cartels are raising concerns because of their proximity to the southern border of the United States. Specifically, a faction of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel known as Los Salazar has deployed these drones to attack Los Pelones, a rival cartel, just two miles from the U.S. border, according to a report from the New York Post.

In a briefing to the Senate Armed Services Committee in March, Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot, who commands both the North American Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, highlighted the significant number of drones — more than 1,000 per month — crossing the U.S. border. Border agents told The Post that these drones are not only intended for aggressive maneuvers but also for reconnaissance purposes against U.S. law enforcement.

In response to these developments, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), along with House Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY), in December 2023 pushed for measures to prevent U.S. technology from being used in Chinese-designed drones. Ernst proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to establish counter-drone efforts. This includes the creation of a Counter Unmanned Aviation Systems (CUAS) task force, The Post reported.

Ernst criticized the current administration’s handling of the border situation, accusing it of allowing drug cartels to dominate the southern border and engage in drone warfare dangerously close to the U.S. “These criminals must face consequences. That is the rationale behind my decision to empower the Pentagon to counter these threats with all available resources,” Ernst told The Post. The proposed legislation aims to establish a CUAS task force, along with specific reporting mechanisms for drone incursions into U.S. airspace.

In a December statement, Ernst said she disagrees with the U.S. Department of Defense’s support for export control licenses that would expand the capabilities of DJI drones, arguing that drones help adversaries attack U.S. allies from Eastern Europe to Israel.

Additionally, in an April op-ed, Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) shared their perspectives on the issue, underscoring the urgent need for action:

“The first problem is that our country does not have sufficient drone detection capabilities. We still rely on the early warning radars that served us so well during the Cold War. Today, however, they are unable to detect, identify, and track small aircraft at both high and low altitudes. Within the United States, we can track little but commercial aircraft. Almost none of our domestic military bases have the sensors to identify small drones. … The United States must launch a broad overhaul of its detection capabilities and streamline its ability to respond once a threat is identified.

As Iran’s attack on Israel demonstrated, our adversaries see drones as a cheap, lethal solution to penetrating the most sophisticated multi-layered air defenses. There is no reason to think that the challenge is limited to the skies over Iraq and Israel; it could threaten the United States, and fast. That means American policymakers have no time to waste in creating a better blueprint for drone defense.”