Mexico sends troops after US says shots fired across border

Mexico has dispatched 500 military personnel to its border with Texas following reports that U.S. personnel were targeted by gunfire, according to President Claudia Sheinbaum. The troops were positioned in Tamaulipas state, a region where the Northeast and Gulf drug cartels are engaged in a power struggle. Both cartels have been classified as foreign terrorist organizations by the United States since February 2025.

During her daily press conference, Sheinbaum stated that the U.S. reported incoming shots from the Mexican border, although she noted the administration did not provide any evidence. Despite this, Mexico proceeded with deploying troops along the Rio Grande. U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson confirmed on social media that U.S. Coast Guard personnel were indeed fired upon.

He added that the newly deployed Mexican troops will coordinate directly with U.S. forces. The joint effort aims to patrol both sides of the shared border, safeguard communities, and hinder criminal and terrorist organizations from operating. Since her return to power in 2025, President Donald Trump has been pushing for tighter border security measures.