A gunshot was fired from the southern side of the U.S.-Mexico border toward U.S. Border Patrol agents, and multiple shots were returned by U.S. authorities into Mexico, according to federal and state law enforcement officials sources with firsthand knowledge of the situation.
The incident occurred Monday afternoon in the Rio Grande Valley of southeastern Texas, historically a hotbed for illegal immigration and drug smuggling controlled by multiple Mexican cartels.
“The specific incident occurred in Fronton, Texas, and a Mexican cartel is suspected to be behind the initial gunshot,” the source familiar with the situation told the Washington Examiner. “No Border Patrol agent was injured by the gunshot.”
Two other officials familiar with the incident who asked to remain anonymous said a “green light” had been put out following President Donald Trump’s inauguration early last week that gave cartel members approval to open fire on U.S. federal law enforcement in retaliation for the border crackdown that Trump has waged.
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Gunfire from Mexico into the United States, specifically aimed at military or law enforcement, is extremely rare.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not respond to a request for comment.
