Military expert Doug Macgregor warns that Mexican drug cartels armed with advanced weapons pose a greater national security threat to the United States than traditional adversaries China, Russia, or Iran.
Quick Takes
- Mexican cartels allegedly possess Javelin missile systems and are using sophisticated technology like drones to track border agents
- Border patrol agents have stopped wearing body cameras due to concerns that cartels can track them through Bluetooth technology
- Macgregor suggests some American officials may be on cartel payrolls, compromising border security operations
- As border security tightens, cartels are responding with increased threats and technological warfare against agents
- Congress is being urged to expedite funding for technology, equipment, and personnel to counter this growing threat
Cartels: America’s Most Immediate Threat
The conversation about America’s greatest security threats typically centers on nation-states like China, Russia, and Iran. However, according to Retired Colonel Doug Macgregor in a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, the Mexican drug cartels present a far more imminent danger to American national security and sovereignty. This assessment challenges conventional thinking about defense priorities at a time when billions are being directed toward foreign conflicts while border security faces sophisticated and increasingly militarized cartel operations directly on American doorsteps.
An alarming claim presented by Macgregor suggests cartels now possess advanced weaponry, including Javelin missile systems, positioning them as paramilitary organizations rather than mere criminal enterprises. Such armaments significantly elevate the threat level, potentially giving cartels the capability to engage in asymmetric warfare against American law enforcement or even military personnel. The proximity of these armed groups at the southern border creates an immediate security vulnerability unlike distant foreign adversaries who must project power across oceans.
Advanced Cartel Tactics Targeting Border Agents
Border security personnel are increasingly facing sophisticated technological threats from cartels determined to maintain their smuggling operations. According to reports, cartels are deploying drones for surveillance, using wireless tracking technology, and potentially accessing leaked operational information to monitor and counter U.S. Border Patrol activities. These tactics represent an evolution in cartel capabilities from mere evasion to active counterintelligence against American law enforcement, creating dangerous conditions for agents working to secure the border.
The technological battle has reached such intensity that border agents have taken the unprecedented step of discontinuing body camera usage due to concerns that Bluetooth signals could be intercepted by cartel operatives to track agent movements and positions. This development creates a troubling secondary problem: without body camera footage, agents may face increased allegations of misconduct without video evidence to defend themselves. The dual concerns of physical safety and professional vulnerability place border security personnel in an increasingly difficult position.
EXCLUSIVE BREAKING NEWS – US Border Patrol has a memorandum to not use body cameras because of a threat of improvised explosive devices (from source).
Reported text of memo: "Effective Immediately until further notice, agents will cease the use of body worn cameras, Border..1/
— Ioan Grillo (@ioangrillo) February 15, 2025
Internal Corruption and Information Leaks
Perhaps most concerning among the threats is the allegation that some American officials may be on cartel payrolls, creating a threat from within government ranks. This corruption claim, if accurate, represents a serious national security breach that compromises enforcement operations and intelligence gathering. The possibility of information leaks about planned ICE raids puts agents at risk of ambushes and undermines the effectiveness of enforcement actions, allowing criminal organizations to stay one step ahead of law enforcement efforts.
Policy Responses and Resource Needs
Security experts are calling for immediate congressional action to provide enhanced resources for border protection agencies. The technological arms race between cartels and law enforcement requires continuous upgrades to detection and countermeasure systems. Specific needs include advanced anti-drone technology, secure communications systems, enhanced intelligence capabilities, and additional personnel. The urgency of these requirements is heightened by the escalating technological sophistication of cartel operations and their increasingly aggressive responses to intensified border security measures.
Border security professionals emphasize that effective countermeasures must combine technology, intelligence, and physical presence. The multifaceted threat requires a similarly comprehensive response strategy that addresses both the immediate tactical challenges of border enforcement and the deeper institutional vulnerabilities exposed by potential corruption. Without adequate resources and policy support, border agents will continue to face asymmetric threats from increasingly well-armed and technologically sophisticated cartel operations with direct implications for American national security.
