Customs and Border Protection personnel — not U.S. troops — used military laser to shoot object near El Paso

U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel — not American service members — shot down an object with a military laser earlier this week near El Paso, Texas, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.

Troops with Joint Task Force – Southern Border were not authorized to shoot down drones in the area. The task force — which works hand-in-hand with federal law enforcement and serves as the primary military entity for the U.S.-Mexico border mission — trained CBP personnel on the equipment who used it during the incursion.

A source familiar told DefenseScoop that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the transfer of a military counter-drone system to CBP.

Sources did not identify the specific laser system that was used. U.S. Border Patrol falls under CBP.

The operation reportedly caused interagency turmoil between the Pentagon and Federal Aviation Administration, prompting the latter to issue a 10-day flight restriction that lasted only hours into Wednesday.

CBS News reported that the military planned to use counter-drone technology near Fort Bliss, Texas, which is near the El Paso International Airport. The FAA and Pentagon were expected to meet later this month to discuss the operation, but the military moved forward with the operation. 

Earlier today, a Trump administration official told DefenseScoop that “Mexican cartel drones breached U.S. airspace” and the Defense Department “took action to disable the drones.” The official added that the FAA and Pentagon determined there “is no threat to commercial travel.”

The Defense Department declined to comment and referred questions to CBP, which did not respond for comment by publication. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about CBP shooting down the object.

This story is developing and will be updated if new information becomes available.