By Trendsetter Tribune 
Tensions between Mexico and the United States intensified on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum pushed back against claims that cartel-operated drones had compromised American airspace. The dispute follows a chaotic series of events that saw El Paso International Airport grounded in an unprecedented security maneuver.
A Rapid and Rare Airspace Closure
Late Tuesday night, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stunned local officials and travelers by issuing a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that effectively closed El Paso’s airspace for “special security reasons.”
- The 10-Day Warning: Initially, the FAA announced a 10-day restriction, grounding all commercial, cargo, and general aviation through late February 20.
- The Reversal: By Wednesday morning, the agency abruptly lifted the closure, stating that “normal operations” could resume and that there was no remaining threat to commercial aviation.
- A Historical Parallel: Local leaders noted that such a complete shutdown of a major U.S. city’s airspace had not occurred since the attacks on September 11, 2001.
Conflicting Narratives from Washington and Mexico City
The Trump administration was quick to attribute the disruption to illegal activity crossing the southern border. However, President Sheinbaum has demanded more transparency and shared information.
| U.S. Administration Stance | Mexican Government Response |
| The Claim: The White House and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that Mexican cartel drones “breached U.S. airspace.” | The Denial: President Sheinbaum stated there is “no information” regarding such drones and emphasized that Mexico was not notified. |
| The Action: The Department of Defense reportedly “neutralized” the threat, though officials declined to specify how many drones were involved or the methods used to disable them. | The Demand: Sheinbaum noted that her government would investigate the “exact causes” of the closure and urged the U.S. to communicate through “permanent channels.” |
| The Context: U.S. officials cited historical data showing over 27,000 drone detections near the border in late 2024 as evidence of ongoing cartel surveillance and trafficking. | The Skepticism: Sheinbaum warned against “speculation” and suggested the U.S. must provide proof if they have information that Mexico lacks. |
Confusion on the Ground
The lack of advance notice sparked significant pushback from both sides of the aisle in Texas. Representative Veronica Escobar (D-TX) called the sudden shutdown “unprecedented” and expressed skepticism about the administration’s explanation, suggesting the official narrative “does not add up” based on congressional briefings.
Meanwhile, Tony Gonzales (R-TX) took a more pragmatic view, noting that for border residents, “daily drone incursions by criminal organizations are part of everyday life.”
What’s Next?
The diplomatic fallout is expected to continue as Mexican defense and navy secretaries meet with U.S. Northern Command officials in Washington later today. This meeting, which was scheduled prior to the airspace event, is now expected to be dominated by the drone allegations and the lack of bilateral coordination during the FAA’s response.