Explosive-laden drones, deployed by Mexican drug cartels, are raising concerns due to their proximity to the United States’ southern boundary. Specifically, a faction of the notable Sinaloa Cartel, known as Los Salazar, has been employing these drones to attack Los Pelones, a rival cartel, a mere two miles from the U.S. border, according to a report by 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 the U.S. Northern Command, highlighted the significant number of drones, over 1,000 monthly, breaching the U.S. border. Border agents have indicated to The Post that these drones are not just for aggressive maneuvers but also for reconnaissance purposes against U.S. law enforcement.
In response to these developments, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), alongside House Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY), pushed for measures in December 2023 to block U.S. technology from being used in Chinese-designed drones. Ernst has proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to establish counter-drone efforts. This includes forming 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’s the reason behind my move to empower the Pentagon to counter these threats by all available means,” Ernst commented to The Post. The proposed legislation aims to set up a CUAS task force along with specified reporting mechanisms for drone incursions into U.S. airspace.
In a December statement, Ernst voiced her opposition to the U.S. Department of Defense backing export control licenses that could enhance the capabilities of DJI drones, which, she argued, aids adversaries in their attacks against U.S. allies, from Eastern Europe to Israel.
Furthermore, 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 nation lacks adequate drone detection capability. We still rely on the early warning radars that served us so well during the Cold War. Today, though, they are unable to detect, identify and track small aircraft at both high and low altitudes. Inside the United States, we can hardly track anything other than 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 proved, our adversaries see drones as an inexpensive, deadly solution to penetrate the most sophisticated layered air defenses. There is no reason to think the challenge is limited to the skies over Iraq and Israel; it could threaten the United States, and fast. That means U.S. policymakers have no time to spare in generating a better blueprint for defenses against drones.”
