Mexican drug cartel members fired their guns at Border Patrol agents on Monday, exactly a week after President Trump returned to the White House and began a sweeping crackdown on mass immigration.

Nobody was injured in the dramatic exchange near Fronton, Texas, which was captured by drones flown over an island in the Rio Grande.

Cartels shoot at Border Patrol

At least four men, dressed in camouflage and black clothing, were seen taking cover in some foliage and aiming their rifles at drones piloted by Texas Department of Public Safety.

Border Patrol agents returned fire, and a group of illegal aliens that was attempting to cross at the time did not make it through.

“DPS responded to assist the US Border Patrol after agents received gunfire from cartel members in Mexico while patrolling in Fronton,” Lt. Chris Olivarez posted on X.

VIDEO: Earlier today, @TxDPS responded to assist the US Border Patrol after agents received gunfire from cartel members in Mexico while patrolling in Fronton, Starr County. DPS Drone Operators captured the gunmen fleeing Mexico due to military presence, & seeking refuge on an… pic.twitter.com/oPf5l7wltO

— Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) January 28, 2025

“DPS drone operators captured the gunmen fleeing Mexico due to military presence and seeking refuge on an island between the US and Mexico,” he added.

"The State of Texas will continue to monitor the area closely and use every resource available to prevent transnational threats to our law enforcement partners and the homeland,” Olivarez said.

Trump's crackdown

Fronton Island is a heavily forested territory that is disputed between Mexico and the U.S.

The island's dense vegetation has made it useful to Mexican drug cartels who covertly smuggle people and drugs into the United States, the Daily Mail notes.

No Border Patrol agents were injured in Monday's attack, but the confrontation served as a stark reminder of the threat posed by international gangs that flourished under the open border policies of Trump's predecessor.

President Trump designated Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations on his first day back in office, as he declared a national emergency at the border, deploying 1,500 active-duty troops to assist Border Parol.

Trump has also untied the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, empowering agents to make arrests at previously forbidden locations like schools and churches.

During the first week of Trump's crackdown, ICE officials arrested over 4,500 aliens, with the White House pushing for 1,500 daily arrests going forward.