US military downs over 300 border drones without saying where

Dana Whitfield · 2026-09-05T15:20:17.248Z

drones and we still don't know what tech is being used or the actual threat level. Feels like we're getting half the story on purpose.

US military downs over 300 border drones without saying where — Photo: This image or file is a work of an employee of the United States Customs and Border Protection (an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security), taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain in the United States. CBP website: Unless a copyright is indicated, information on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website is in the public domain and may be reproduced, published or otherwise used without the permission of the CBP. We request only that the CBP be cited as the source of the information and that any photo credits or bylines be similarly credited to the photographer, author, or CBP, as appropriate. / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

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The U.S. military says it has brought down more than 300 drones associated with illicit activity along the U.S.-Mexico border since the start of 2026, including more than 100 in August. Officials say transnational criminal organizations use commercial drones for smuggling and to monitor law-enforcement and military personnel, while Mexico’s defense secretary said U.S. commanders had identified migrant-smuggling groups as the main operators scouting for unguarded routes. Since Aug. 24, U.S. forces have used the Army Multipurpose High-Energy Laser system to destroy 11 of the drones, alongside other kinetic and non-kinetic systems. The military has not identified a specific cartel or disclosed whether the strikes occurred on U.S. or Mexican territory, an important distinction given Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s warning that unilateral U.S. action on Mexican soil would violate Mexico’s sovereignty. More than 8,000 U.S. service members are deployed along the southern border as part of the counter-drone and border-security mission.