U.S. Border Patrol agents near Fronton, Texas, reportedly exchanged gunfire with suspected drug cartel gunmen from Mexico on January 27, 2025. The incident occurred on Fronton Island, an uninhabited island in the Rio Grande in Starr County, Texas, which is a disputed territory claimed by both Texas and Mexico.
According to reports, there were no injuries in the incident, and the scene remains active. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility, Texas Department of Public Safety, DHS Office of Inspector General, and FBI are at the scene.
The suspected cartel has fired shots from the Mexican side of the territory for years, but things have escalated “in unprecedented ways” since President Donald Trump was elected. Trump has issued a massive crackdown on illegal immigration, signing executive orders that have paved the way for mass deportations and the return of some of his first-term policies.
The incident comes as Trump has designated Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and has made immigration a central theme of his presidency. A New York Times/Ipsos poll found that 55% of voters strongly or somewhat support Trump’s mass deportation plans.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is patrolling the area and has a drone in the air, while Mexican military assets are reportedly staging on the other side of the river. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has posted a video of the Texas Tactical Border Force being deployed to the Rio Grande Valley to assist with Border Patrol agents.
The situation remains dangerous and fluid, with at least three law enforcement agencies responding to the incident. Authorities have not issued a public statement at this time.