US Military Surveillance Operations at the US-Mexican Border

Over the past two weeks, US military spy planes have conducted at least 18 missions around the U.S.-Mexico border — an increase from about one surveillance mission per month. Spotted were Navy P-8 Poseidons, Air Force RC-135, and the legendary U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance plane.

The P-8s are equipped with powerful radar systems capable of tracking land and at sea movements. The RC-135 specializes in signals intelligence, intercepting cartel radio chatter and encrypted messaging communications from the ground. The U-2, with its ability to fly at 70,000 feet, can capture high-resolution imagery of vast areas, providing an unmatched bird’s-eye view of cartel strongholds and trafficking routes.

This mission of gathering signals, imagery, and movement data on cartel activity is far beyond what domestic law enforcement surveillance can achieve. These flights have spanned Texas, Arizona, and California, with some even looping around Mexico’s Baja Peninsula and passing near cartel strongholds like Sinaloa.

What will the US military do with this intel? It could possibly be passed along to the Mexican military to help them target cartel operations aligning with a joint liaison military operation. The Mexican government has deployed 10,000 troops to the border in recent days as part of "Operación Frontera Norte" (Operation Northern Border) as promised by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in exchange for a reprieve on US imposed tariffs.

The problem with this action is the corruption within Mexican government, police, and military ranks. Wrongly placed information could easily thwart high-value target operations.

Alternatively, these surveillance flights could be part of preparations for direct U.S. military action against cartel targets. Discussions of strikes against cartel fentanyl labs or sending US Special Forces to take out key fentanyl enterprise personnel. As the administration takes steps to designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, the stage could be set for direct military intervention.

As, thousands of additional U.S. troops have been deployed to the border for intelligence and logistical support and Border Czar, Tom Homan affirming that threats will be met with equal and greater response, we are very likely to see US operators in direct action.

Lawless organizations like drug cartels have not responded to strongly worded requests, or even threats. For good or worse, long overdue is a kinetic attempt at solving a problem that has caused the untimely deaths of so many of our young people.