By Thomas McInerney LTG USAF (Ret) and Paul E Vallely MG USA (Ret)
In 2025, America faces an urgent and undeniable threat along its southern border—one that demands a bold, decisive military response. The drug cartels operating in Mexico can no longer be treated as mere criminal organizations. They are heavily armed, well-financed, and control large swaths of Mexican territory. These cartels’ function more like foreign paramilitary forces than gangs, and their reach extends deep into American cities and towns.
It is time for the United States, under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, to act. A comprehensive plan has been developed to launch a military-led campaign against the cartels, rooted in unconventional and conventional warfare tactics. This mission should be executed by the U.S. Armed Forces and coordinated by Special Operations Command (SOCOM), with the full backing of the Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and national intelligence agencies.
Cartels such as Jalisco Nueva Generación and the Sinaloa Cartel are now equipped with military-grade weapons including .50 caliber sniper rifles, RPG-7 grenade launchers, and full-auto PKM machine guns—many of the same armaments being used in the war in Ukraine. Some of these weapons have allegedly been turned against U.S. Border Patrol agents. In northern Mexican states like Sonora, Nuevo León, and Chihuahua, cartel convoys of armored “narco-tanks” roam freely, engaging in open gun battles with security forces. The Mexican government, riddled with corruption, has lost control of the region. The cartels have effectively become the ruling power.
Make no mistake—this is a war, and wars are not won by defense alone. We must shift to an offensive posture, deploying joint military task forces to the southern U.S. border and taking the fight directly to cartel strongholds across the Mexican border if necessary. This is not a violation of international law, but a response to an ongoing invasion threatening the sovereignty and safety of the United States.
The operational plan calls for the creation of three Border Task Force Groups (BTFGs), headquartered at existing bases in Texas, Arizona, and California. These units would include Special Forces, Delta Force, Navy SEALs, Rangers, Marine Recon, and supporting Army and Air Force personnel. A 20-mile “No Go Zone” would be established on the Mexican side of the border, where any cartel activity would be met with force.
On the U.S. side, border security operations would be carried out by the National Guard, Border Patrol, DEA, and local law enforcement. This would not violate the Posse Comitatus Act, as the mission centers on national defense, not domestic policing.
Meanwhile, reports of gun-running from the United States to cartels continue to mount. Over 500,000 weapons per year are estimated to be smuggled into Mexico, many traced back to U.S. manufacturers. Federal investigations and a revived Mexican lawsuit against gunmakers underscore the need for tighter oversight and accountability.
Americans, particularly in the border states, are deeply concerned. Over 70% believe the federal government is failing to secure the border. Fentanyl deaths, gang violence, human trafficking, and foreign interference—reportedly even from the Chinese Communist Party—are all tied to cartel operations.
The situation is dire. President Trump must act swiftly and decisively. This isn’t about politics—it’s about survival. The United States must declare the cartels enemy combatants and treat them accordingly. History will not forgive inaction in the face of such an obvious and imminent threat.
The time for defensive posturing is over. We must enforce the rule of law, protect our people, and restore order—through strength, unity, and force.
