Texas experiences significant border security challenges and law enforcement operations related to the ongoing Mexican drug cartel conflicts, but a state of “war” in a traditional military sense has not been declared with Mexico. Instead, Texas authorities are engaged in a persistent battle against transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) operating in the region. 

Key Aspects of Cartel Activity and Response in Texas

• Law Enforcement Operations: Elite Texas law enforcement units, including the Texas Rangers and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), work to prevent the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people across the border. These efforts involve high-speed chases, night raids, and aerial surveillance, as well as joint operations with federal agencies like the DEA and Homeland Security Investigations. The state’s initiative, Operation Lone Star, has deployed additional National Guard troops to secure areas like the Rio Grande Valley.
• Major Cartels Involved: The primary TCOs controlling drug trafficking activities in South Texas include the Gulf Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel. These groups use violence and intimidation to control smuggling routes, and their internal conflicts and battles for territorial control in northern Mexico (particularly Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon) often have ramifications on the U.S. side of the border.
• Violence and Threats: While most armed conflict occurs in Mexico, there have been instances of “spillover violence,” including:
  • Shootouts between suspected cartel members and U.S. Border Patrol agents in Texas.
  • Reports of cartels using fiber optic-controlled drones and placing explosives along roadways in border areas of Mexico near Brownsville.
  • U.S. street gangs operating under the direction of Mexican cartels for drug distribution within the U.S..
• The “War on Drugs” Context: U.S. and Texas officials describe their efforts as part of a broader “war on drugs”. Some politicians and law enforcement officials have advocated for stronger measures, including designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations or using the U.S. military for targeted operations within Mexico, highlighting the perceived gravity of the threat.
• Arrests: High-profile arrests of cartel leaders have occurred in Texas, such as the capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a long-time leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, in El Paso in July 2024.