The U.S. military utilized a laser on Thursday to intercept a drone perceived as a potential threat near the U.S.-Mexico border, which was later confirmed to be owned by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This event led to the closure of additional airspace around Fort Hancock, Texas, situated approximately 80 kilometers southeast of El Paso, as mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Any counter-drone actions within U.S. airspace by the military require formal notification to the FAA.
This marked the second instance within a fortnight where a laser was deployed in the region, with the previous occurrence involving CBP without any impact. The incident occurred in the vicinity of Fort Bliss, resulting in the FAA’s decision to halt air traffic at El Paso airport and its environs. However, the recent closure was more localized, with no disruptions to commercial flights.
Upon official notification, Washington U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and two other leading Democrats from congressional committees expressed astonishment. They criticized the Trump administration for circumventing a bipartisan legislation aimed at enhancing drone operator training and interagency communication among the Pentagon, FAA, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees CBP.
In response, the FAA, CBP, and the Pentagon released a joint statement late Thursday acknowledging the military’s use of counter-unmanned aircraft system measures to address a potentially threatening unmanned aerial system within military airspace. The action was taken far from populated areas and commercial flight paths as part of efforts to bolster border security.
As per the statement, the collaboration between the Department of Defense, FAA, and Customs and Border Patrol, under President Trump’s directive, focuses on countering drone threats posed by Mexican cartels and foreign terrorist groups along the U.S.-Mexico border. The brief El Paso shutdown earlier had caused concern, although lasting only a few hours, compared to the initial FAA plan to shut the airport for ten days.
In another development, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, a ranking member on the Senate’s aviation subcommittee, called for an independent inquiry into the matter. The lack of coordination among federal agencies had been a subject of congressional concern following the tragic midair collision near Washington, D.C., in January 2025, highlighting safety data sharing lapses.
Moreover, Congress recently passed the Safer Skies Act, granting broader authority to law enforcement agencies, including select state and local departments, to neutralize unauthorized drones, provided they undergo proper training. Previously, only a limited number of federal agencies possessed such capabilities.
Furthermore, the U.S. government has allocated over $250 million to assist states in enhancing their drone response preparedness ahead of hosting major events this summer, including World Cup matches and national celebrations. Additional grants worth $250 million will be disbursed later this year to fortify the country’s defenses against drone threats.