by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, Arizona Mirror
August 26, 2025
Customs and Border Protection has enacted a temporary flight restriction around a large portion of southern Arizona that disallows drones to be flown without a permit.
The TFR “mitigation zone” began Aug. 8 and will be in place until Feb. 9, 2026. It encompasses a large area of land just north of Nogales. The listed reason by the Federal Aviation Administration is “for Special Security Reasons.”
The FAA referred questions to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which took two weeks to respond.
“Since Day One, President Trump has created the most secure Southern border in American history—from both land and air. The President’s Executive Order implemented a five-mile Mitigation Zone near Rio Rico to combat drug cartels weaponizing drones, delivering contraband, surveilling law enforcement, and endangering the public,” an unnamed CBP spokesman said in an emailed response to the Arizona Mirror’s questions. “Because Nogales was outside of the five-mile perimeter, CBP requested a Temporary Flight Restriction to keep the area as a mitigation zone. President Trump and Secretary (Kristi) Noem will use every tool available to keep the American people safe from drug cartels.”
Trump’s first move upon entering the White House was to declare a national emergency at the southern border and, in doing so, create a five-mile perimeter around the border specifically to combat drones.
The TFR states that no “UAS,” or unmanned aerial system, can be operated in the area unless it is supporting the military, DHS, law enforcement, disaster response, firefighting or is a commercial drone with a valid permit.
Those who want to use a drone in the area would have to apply for what is called a “ special government interest” waiver.
“As we don’t fly drones for our camera work, these TFRs do not impact us directly, but they do impact the ability of folks to document the construction of the border wall,” Eamon Harrity, the border wildlife study lead at the Tucson-based Sky Island Alliance, told the Mirror. “The new border wall construction across the Santa Cruz River falls within the TFR near Nogales and Kino Springs, so reporters, etc., won’t be able to fly drones to monitor the construction activities.”
CBP and DHS did not respond to additional questions on how they intend to ensure that the TFR does not impact humanitarian work or First Amendment-protected activities in the area. A special government interest waiver does apply to news media but must first be approved by the FAA.
Airspace around borders is heavily controlled and monitored by the U.S. military and the FAA. NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, has previously reported that drone incursions at the southern border have seen a marked increase as inexpensive consumer drones have proliferated.
The Trump administration has taken a hardline stance on the border, creating a National Defense Area that militarizes large areas of land along the border and creating new legal challenges.
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