A Coast Guard crew patrolling the Rio Grande near Texas came under gunfire from the Mexican side of the river on September 26. The crew returned fire, but no Americans were hurt.
What happened
The incident occurred near Garceño, in Starr County, Texas, and is not an isolated event, with similar incidents reported in 2015, 2021, and 2025. The Gulf Cartel, which operates in the area, is believed to be responsible for the attack.
The US has designated the major cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, giving Washington more tools to combat them, including freezing assets and prosecuting those who provide material support. Mexico has taken steps to combat the cartels, including transferring alleged cartel figures to US custody and deploying troops to the border.
However, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has dismissed the attack, saying there is no evidence that cartel gunmen fired on US personnel. She has argued that American drug demand and guns share the blame for the violence.
The US has leverage to pressure Mexico to take further action, with Mexico sending roughly 80% of its exports to the US. Bilateral trade talks are ongoing, and security commitments should be included in any trade deal, including dismantling cartel operations and securing the shared border.
