Training village, Ft Bliss, El Paso, TX, Nov, 2018. Wikimedia
Q1. According to reports, in January, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the lending of the US Army's AeroVironment’s Locust laser-weapon system to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for use at the Fort Bliss Army base. Fort Bliss is located primarily in El Paso, TX, but extends into NM.
The Army has been testing the weapon — which has been deployed outside the US — since last year at Fort Bliss.
The CBP was interested in using Locust against Mexican cartel drones, which have been making as many as 1,000 incursions a month into US airspace along the southern border. The Mexican cartels, like other criminal organizations, have been adopting advanced but inexpensive drone technologies developed in Ukraine during its war with Russia.
Do you approve of the loan of the Locust system to CBP?
The Army has been testing the weapon — which has been deployed outside the US — since last year at Fort Bliss.
The CBP was interested in using Locust against Mexican cartel drones, which have been making as many as 1,000 incursions a month into US airspace along the southern border. The Mexican cartels, like other criminal organizations, have been adopting advanced but inexpensive drone technologies developed in Ukraine during its war with Russia.
Do you approve of the loan of the Locust system to CBP?
(Image: US Army M1301 Infantry Squad vehicle equipped with Locust Laser Weapon System, April 2025. US Army )
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Yes
46%
61%
36%
95%
36%
12%
44%
45%
49%
43%
46%
No, because it's still experimental
10%
9%
11%
5%
9%
14%
19%
12%
7%
10%
10%
No, too much weapon for the cause
28%
22%
33%
0%
28%
49%
25%
20%
29%
36%
28%
No, other
7%
4%
7%
0%
13%
10%
0%
10%
7%
5%
7%
Not sure
9%
4%
13%
0%
12%
15%
12%
12%
8%
6%
9%
Don't care
0%
0%
0%
0%
1%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Q2. Late Tuesday night, the FAA announced a 10-day airspace closure for an 11 mile radius over El Paso International Airport "for special security reasons," without elaborating. Hours later, they reversed the decision and reopened the airspace.
Shortly after the airspace was reopened, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted on X: "The FAA and Dept of War acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion. The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region. The restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming."
Which do you think is a bigger threat to commercial aviation at this point in time when deployed near an airport?
Shortly after the airspace was reopened, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted on X: "The FAA and Dept of War acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion. The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region. The restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming."
Which do you think is a bigger threat to commercial aviation at this point in time when deployed near an airport?
(Image: El Paso airport after closure was lifted, Feb 11, 2026. Getty)
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Mexican cartel drones
42%
54%
34%
91%
29%
10%
44%
40%
44%
41%
42%
Locust laser
38%
29%
44%
1%
44%
64%
25%
26%
44%
47%
38%
Neither is a threat
8%
10%
6%
8%
12%
6%
25%
4%
8%
6%
8%
Not sure
11%
6%
15%
0%
12%
19%
6%
29%
4%
6%
11%
Don't care
0%
0%
1%
0%
3%
0%
0%
1%
0%
0%
Q3. The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that in early February the CBP notified the FAA that it wanted to use Locust in the vicinity of Fort Bliss. The FAA pushed back, warning about the risk to commercial aviation. CBP ignored the warning, and fired the weapon on Monday, taking down multiple objects they believed to be Mexican cartel drones.
FAA chief Bryan Bedford subsequently announced the 10-day closure without notifying or checking with the White House, Pentagon, or DHS.
In El Paso, Mayor Renard Johnson said the closure, which lasted roughly eight hours, forced medical evacuation flights to be diverted to Las Cruces, NM a city 40 miles northwest of El Paso.
Law enforcement is analyzing debris from the shootdowns. At least three objects were found to be party balloons, but there is no information on how many objects were shot down, or how many were drones, if any.
If you believe the Journal's account, what do you think prompted Bedford to announce a 10-day closure Tuesday night?
FAA chief Bryan Bedford subsequently announced the 10-day closure without notifying or checking with the White House, Pentagon, or DHS.
In El Paso, Mayor Renard Johnson said the closure, which lasted roughly eight hours, forced medical evacuation flights to be diverted to Las Cruces, NM a city 40 miles northwest of El Paso.
Law enforcement is analyzing debris from the shootdowns. At least three objects were found to be party balloons, but there is no information on how many objects were shot down, or how many were drones, if any.
If you believe the Journal's account, what do you think prompted Bedford to announce a 10-day closure Tuesday night?
(Image: Colombian army drone battalion, for use against Colombian drug cartel drones, which have dropped bombs on police stations. Tolemeida Air Base, Nilo, Colombia. Getty // AFP)
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Moot: Don't believe the WSJ account
12%
9%
14%
25%
11%
3%
0%
14%
15%
8%
12%
Don't care
3%
4%
3%
3%
13%
1%
12%
2%
2%
3%
3%
Topics
Entities in this poll: (rate and comment)
