The yearlong restrictions cover a narrow border corridor as federal agencies expand efforts to detect and counter unauthorized unmanned aircraft.
WASHINGTON, DC — The Federal Aviation Administration has restricted unauthorized drone flights along the U.S.-Mexico border, creating a controlled airspace corridor as federal officials respond to what they describe as a growing threat from drones used by Mexican criminal organizations.
The temporary flight restrictions apply to unmanned aircraft from the surface to 400 feet above ground level and extend one nautical mile north of the international border. The Transportation, Homeland Security and War departments announced the coordinated action Oct. 16. An FAA domestic notice lists the restrictions as running from Oct. 19, 2026, through Oct. 19, 2027, under three notices covering different sections of the southern border.
The restrictions mark another step in a broader federal campaign against unauthorized drones operating near the border. U.S. officials say criminal organizations have used commercially available drones to monitor law enforcement activity, watch smuggling routes and, in some cases, carry drug packages. The government has also been deploying and testing systems designed to detect, track and disable small unmanned aircraft.
Federal officials have offered different figures describing the scale of drone activity. The Pentagon has said there are more than 1,000 drone incursions along the U.S.-Mexico border each month, according to Reuters. During a military counter-drone exercise in Arizona, Brig. Gen. Brian Filler of Joint Task Force Southern Border said the military had detected 378 incursions during the previous 30 days. The figures may reflect different reporting periods or methods, and federal agencies have not publicly provided a single detailed accounting that reconciles them.
The military has been testing several forms of counter-drone technology near the border, including radar systems, interceptor drones and automated weapons designed to identify and stop small aircraft. At a September exercise at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, Army officials said many of the drones encountered near the border were ordinary commercially available models equipped with cameras and used for surveillance connected to smuggling and human trafficking.
The government has also deployed high-energy laser technology. The FAA and Pentagon reached an agreement in April allowing such systems to be used along the southern border against drone threats. The military said in early October that it had brought down 11 cartel-operated drones with lasers since deploying the technology in August. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the new flight restrictions would give commanders more awareness and options to respond to unauthorized aircraft.
The use of counter-drone lasers has previously created complications for civilian aviation and other government aircraft. In February, the FAA announced plans to suspend flights at El Paso International Airport in Texas for 10 days after Customs and Border Protection used a Pentagon laser system before an FAA safety review had been completed. The shutdown order was lifted after about eight hours. Days later, a U.S. military laser system brought down a Customs and Border Protection drone near Fort Hancock, Texas, prompting the FAA to expand restricted airspace in that area. Homeland Security officials later pledged closer coordination among agencies.
The new border restrictions are intended to separate unauthorized civilian drone activity from federal security operations and make it easier for authorities to identify aircraft operating without approval. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the measure was designed to counter cartel drone threats while protecting government personnel and border airspace. The restrictions do not amount to a blanket prohibition on every government-approved drone operation in the corridor.
The FAA said operators seeking permission to fly an unmanned aircraft inside the restricted area must submit an airspace access request to U.S. Customs and Border Protection at least 48 hours before the proposed flight. Requests must provide information about the operator, FAA certifications, the planned flight and the drone, including its Remote ID and identifying information. First responders and organizations dealing with emergencies may qualify for expedited coordination.
The FAA cautions that its published map of the restricted corridor is intended only for general situational awareness. Drone operators are required to consult the governing notices for exact geographic boundaries, effective times, exceptions and operating conditions. The agency also recommends checking those notices regularly because restrictions can change while the yearlong border measures remain in effect.
Author note: Last updated October 22, 2026.