A volatile stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border near Fronton, Texas, has once again become the scene of cartel-related chaos. According to Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin, suspected cartel members engaged in a violent incident during what authorities believe was a human smuggling operation.
Just yards from U.S. soil, cartel gunmen armed with rifles patrol the riverbanks, visibly unchallenged on the Mexican side. In some cases, these armed operatives have aimed AK-47s at Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopters. Rival cartels are even seen warring with each other, with Texas DPS thermal drone footage capturing combatants throwing explosives in their fight for control over smuggling routes.
The state of Texas has taken aggressive measures to counteract cartel influence in the area. In October, Texas declared Fronton Island state property and launched a bold initiative to clear and secure it. Crews bulldozed the brush, deployed razor wire, and fortified the territory, turning what was once dense cover for cartel activity into an open, 171-acre barren landscape. The state also stationed Texas troopers and National Guard soldiers to patrol the area, fully armed and prepared to prevent illegal crossings.
“Here on the US side of the river you can see what Texas has done with Fronten Island. They have completely cleared it out, they’ve deployed razor wire and there is now nowhere for these cartel gunmen to hide if they want to cross here illegally,” Melugin reported during his on-the-ground segment.
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Cartel members continue to demonstrate an alarming level of confidence, with some even leaving bullet-riddled graffiti-covered structures as a sign of their presence. The violence, paired with a past lack of federal action, has emboldened these criminal organizations.
The 170-acre uninhabited landmass in the Rio Grande near Fronton, Texas, has become a focal point of border security and jurisdictional disputes. Historically, the island’s dense vegetation made it a hotspot for illicit activities such as drug and human trafficking.
In September 2023, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham declared the island as state property, allowing the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to conduct security operations. The Texas National Guard and DPS subsequently cleared the island’s brush, established patrols, and installed barriers to deter illegal crossings and criminal activities.
However, in May 2024, the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) challenged Texas’s claim, asserting that Fronton Island is federal property under its jurisdiction. The IBWC requested documentation from Texas to validate its ownership claim, further complicating the situation.
This month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), a significant move aimed at intensifying U.S. enforcement against these groups. The designation allows for expanded measures, including economic sanctions, travel restrictions, and, potentially, military interventions—steps that carry profound implications for U.S.-Mexico relations.
