US Prohibits Unauthorized Drones Along US–Mexico Border

The Trump administration banned unauthorized drone activity along the U.S.–Mexico border on Oct. 16 to increase airspace security as it cracks down on drug cartel drone operations.

The ban, established through a temporary flight restriction for drones, was announced in a joint statement by the Department of War, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Transportation. Friday’s announcement comes as U.S. officials have warned that the United States faces thousands of drone incursions at the southern border each month.

The new temporary flight restriction took effect Friday and prohibits any unauthorized drones from operating up to 400 feet above ground level. The restriction extends one nautical mile north of the U.S.–Mexico border.

“The United States government will maintain 100% operational control of our border: land, air, and sea,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a statement. “For too long, cartels have taken advantage of gaps along our southern border. Thanks to President Donald J. Trump, those days are over.”

Friday’s joint announcement said the flight restriction for drones along the southern border builds upon the administration’s previous efforts to secure the border and defend against national security threats, such as illegal cartel operations. The departments said the restriction will reduce risks to continued border security operations.

Hegseth said that the Trump administration’s decision to restrict unauthorized drone activity will give U.S. commanders more awareness, increased decision space, and additional options to defend the country.

“Equipped with cutting-edge technology — including Directed Energy Weapons — our warfighters will shoot down any cartel drone that threatens America’s sovereignty,” he added.

In March 2024, Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that there were likely more than 1,000 drone incursions along the southern border each month. He described the number as “alarming.”

In August, Joint Task Force–Southern Border used the Army Multipurpose High Energy Laser to shoot down three drones linked to Mexican drug cartels, U.S. Northern Command said. The command said the drones were determined to be directly supporting activities that posed a physical threat to U.S. military personnel and U.S. Customs and Border Protection partners.

U.S. Northern Command later said in September the task force had taken down more than 300 unmanned aircraft systems since the start of this year by using both kinetic and non-kinetic systems.

Last month, Hegseth directed the Pentagon to take steps to accelerate the development and use of anti-drone systems across the U.S. military. He warned that American adversaries are quickly producing low-cost unmanned systems and are using them to conduct surveillance, cause disruptions, and carry out attacks.

The Trump administration also previously directed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to expedite its rule-making process for establishing drone flight restrictions over sensitive locations.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Friday’s temporary flight restriction showed that the administration was doubling down on its promise to secure the U.S.–Mexico border by protecting U.S. airspace from threats posed by cartel drones and other illegal operations.

Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin said, “This action will help counter cartel drone threats, protect our personnel, and strengthen security in the airspace above the border.”

An official notice for airmen advisory will be published by the FAA. It will include links to the domestic notice and the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Data Delivery System.