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USA - FAA Restricts Unauthorized Drones Along the U.S.–Mexico Border

On October 16, 2026, the Federal Aviation Administration, with the Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security, announced a temporary flight restriction on drones along the U.S.–Mexico border. The published notice runs from October 19, 2026, through October 19, 2027.

Unauthorized unmanned aircraft are prohibited within one nautical mile inland on the U.S. side of the border, from the surface to 400 feet above the ground. The FAA diagram covers the border from the California coast to the Texas Gulf coast, in three sectors. Mexican airspace is outside the restriction.

The notice says Customs and Border Protection handles requests to fly inside the strip. Approval can cover national defense, homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting, medical evacuation, search and rescue, disaster response, and certain event operations. Operators are told to check the current NOTAM before flying. The notice does not describe a single incident.

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