Republican leaders are calling on multiple federal agencies to address threats posed to border patrol officers by cartel drones.

Five members of Congress, led by Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Arizona), have sent a letter to the Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and the Federal Aviation Administration, demanding answers on how to respond to “hostile” unmanned aerial systems (UAS) coming from Mexico.

More simply put, cartel gangs are allegedly using drones to now watch certain parts of the Southern Border to help manage their human trafficking and drug smuggling schemes.

The call for action comes after recent reports from U.S. Border Patrol officials in El Paso, who revealed that drones coming over from the Juarez area have been persistently monitoring Border agents, according to BorderPatrol.com.

The use of these surveillance drones by cartel groups raises serious concerns among lawmakers, especially with the presence of 9,000 Department of Defense troops currently stationed at the Southern Border.

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“While the presence of active-duty personnel has granted enhanced capabilities, the drug cartels across the border are already seeking new plans for attack,” the letter reads. “During our time at the border, we heard firsthand from commanders and supervisors on the ground being able to conduct (counter unmanned aerial systems) operations should the cartels attempt a drone attack on U.S. service members or federal law enforcement.”

The lawmakers also pointed to recent events that show the growing dangers posed by cartel-operated drones. Earlier this year, cartel drones dropped explosives on a Mexican National Guard patrol in Chihuahua, injuring several soldiers and police officers, per Telemundo.

Republican politicians are specifically concerned that small and mid-sized drones, which are increasingly accessible and affordable to the public, could be used to deliver more explosives or gather intelligence on American military and law enforcement operations. They cited the January 2024 drone strike in Jordan, which killed three U.S. service members and wounded dozens more, as a stark reminder of the lethal impact of drones in politically hostile or crime-ridden areas.

As part of their inquiry, the lawmakers are demanding clarification on which federal agency is directly responsible for responding to drone threats at the border and how quickly it can identify and neutralize an enemy drone. The letter also asks for detailed information on the current strategies to counter or respond to incoming drone threats.

Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-Utah), one of the supporters of the letter, posted on social media that while progress has been made in securing the Southern Border, the threat from cartels remains constant.

“We have seen success in securing our nation’s borders. However, when it comes to dangerous drug cartels, where there is a will, there is a way,” Kennedy posted to X.