Border Patrol agents fired upon by Mexican cartel members: police

U.S. Border Patrol agents engaged in a shootout with suspected cartel members near the U.S.-Mexican border on Monday, marking a continued escalation in the U.S. government’s crackdown on criminal migrants. The exchange of gunfire occurred at approximately 2 p.m. local time near Fronton, Texas, just one week after President Donald Trump initiated heightened border security measures on his first day in office.

The confrontation took place as a group of illegal aliens attempted to cross the Rio Grande amidst the gunfire, but ultimately failed to make it across. Fortunately, neither the Border Patrol agents nor the suspected cartel members sustained any injuries during the incident. President Trump recently made headlines by designating Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, further emphasizing the severity of the situation.

The location of the gunfire exchange, near Fronton Island – commonly referred to as “Cartel Island” due to its history of criminal activity – has been a focal point for law enforcement efforts. In a 2023 interview with Fox News Digital, Commissioner Dawn Buckingham revealed that she had officially declared the land as Texas territory, granting law enforcement the authority to patrol the area.

Buckingham explained, “One of the things that the General Land Office does is determine the center of a waterway. Everything that is the center of the Rio Grande and north, of course, belongs to the state of Texas and the United States.” She further clarified, “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.”

In a separate development, a recent Fox News Digital report highlighted a significant decrease in illegal immigrant encounters during the initial days of the Trump administration. Data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed a 35% drop in encounters compared to the final days of the Biden administration, underscoring the impact of the new administration’s policies.

President Trump’s executive order on immigration emphasized the importance of enforcing the nation’s immigration laws to safeguard national security and public safety. The order prioritized the interests of the American people, stressing the government’s responsibility to prioritize safety, security, and economic well-being.

As the U.S. government intensifies its efforts to combat criminal migrants and secure the border, the ongoing challenges and confrontations along the U.S.-Mexican border continue to shape the landscape of immigration policy and enforcement.

Andrea Margolis, a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, contributed to this report. Readers can contact Andrea Margolis at andrea.margolis@fox.com for story tips and inquiries.