ICE AGENTS FACE THREAT OF WEAPONIZED MEXICAN CARTEL DRONES

Cartels authorized the use of weaponized drones against ICE agents 

 

By Ali Bradley

 

NewsNation 

Feb 1, 2025

 

 

 

Drones used by Mexican drug cartels often carry explosives such as these seized by the Attorney General of the Republic of Mexico

 

Cartels have authorized the use of weaponized drone explosives against border agents and other U.S. law enforcement at the southern border as violent threats are escalating on social media, with some promising the use of deadly force against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is taking the threats seriously enough to circulate two memos among agents and officers within the agency. Copies of the memos were obtained by NewsNation.

One of the communications references three different social media posts that included threats.

One post encourages people to assassinate ICE police, while a TikTok video tells immigrants illegally in the U.S. to spit and urinate on ICE agents’ food and defecate in their vehicles. Another post calls for the murder of local ICE agents.

A second memo warns that cartels have authorized the use of drone explosives against CBP personnel and U.S. law enforcement officers.

Border czar Tom Homan told NewsNation this week that leaked information about targeted operations has forced authorities to pivot to keep officers and agents safe.

“We’ve got many target cities, but I’m not going to share them with you because we got to keep our officers safe,” Homan said.

“Matter of fact, Chicago, that operation was leaked, so we had to reschedule that one. But we need an element of surprise because of officer safety issues. We don’t want the bad guy to know we’re coming,” he added.

Agents are reminded to be cognizant of their surroundings and should be wearing their ballistic armor and utilizing their long firearms.

Maryland Rep. Glenn Ivey, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, told NewsNation that weaponized drones have become more common in warfare, so it’s not surprising cartels may be poised to use them at the U.S. border.