According to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesperson, a gunfight broke out Monday afternoon between U.S. Border Patrol agents and suspected cartel members in Fronton, Texas, just east of the Starr-Zapata county line. No agents were injured in the attack.
The confrontation began around 1:40 p.m. when gunfire was directed at Border Patrol agents from across the Rio Grande. The agents took cover, returned fire, and called for reinforcements.
Reports from NewsNation indicate that Mexican cartel operatives were attempting to smuggle a group of undocumented migrants across the Rio Grande when the gunfire erupted.
Multiple law enforcement agencies—including CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, and the FBI—responded to the scene.
Drone footage released by Texas DPS shows suspected cartel members fleeing after the exchange of gunfire. No injuries were reported.
Authorities on both sides of the border have launched an investigation, though no arrests have been made at this time. U.S. agents are coordinating with Mexican officials to track those involved.
“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,” Texas DPS spokesperson Lt. Chris Olivarez stated on X.
Heightened Security in the Rio Grande Valley
The Rio Grande Valley has long been a hotspot for cartel activity, human smuggling, and violent confrontations along the border.
Starr County, in particular, is a known corridor for drug and human smuggling, with criminal organizations frequently exploiting this stretch of the Rio Grande. Border officials have identified Fronton Island, an uninhabited landmass in the middle of the river, as a strategic location used by cartels.
This is not the first time Border Patrol agents have been targeted in the area. A similar attack occurred three years ago. In response to ongoing security threats, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has deployed an additional 400 National Guard troops to the region. The reinforcements, part of the Texas Tactical Border Force, arrived in McAllen on Monday under Operation Lone Star.
Authorities continue to investigate Monday’s incident.
