The U.S. military spy plane missions — many of which flew close to the U.S.-Mexico border — were conducted over a period of 10 days in late January and early February.

Mexico’s Defense Department has acknowledged authorizing two Pentagon reconnaissance missions since Trump took office but has left open the question of whether the aircraft were involved in espionage

Former and current military officials believe gathered intelligence can be used to build a body of evidence for further foreign terrorist designations

Trump’s shift of Air Force resources from international issues to domestic issues is consistent with promises the president made along the campaign trail.