This is an L.A. Times Studios podcast.

Hi, I'm Faith Pino from L.A. Times Studios in New York City.

Late Tuesday night, the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, halted all flights coming in and out of El Paso Airport for 10 days, citing special

security reasons. But just hours later, after hundreds of passengers scrambled to reroute

their travel plans, the FAA lifted that order. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says

Mexican cartel drones entered U.S. airspace, causing the temporary closure at the airport that sits less than 10 miles from the U.S. Mexico border.

However, the New York Times is reporting that two people, briefed by the Trump administration, say the shutdown was actually caused by the U.S. Defense Department's use of counter drone technology

and its possible risk to neighboring aircrafts.

The abrupt shutdown caused fear across the region.

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, who represents El Paso, the largest city in West Texas,

called the order unprecedented.

And what I can tell you with absolute certainty is that the FAA did not notify anyone locally.

They did not notify me, as I mentioned, and I represent the El Paso International Airport.

I also represent Fort Bliss and the El Paso community. They did not alert the El Paso International Airport.

They did not alert the El Paso city manager or the El Paso mayor. So everyone locally on the

ground was in the dark. The FAA and the Defense Department confirmed there's now no threat to commercial

travel as flights return to normal in and out of West Texas Wednesday. Meanwhile in California,

nine people have died inside L.A. County jails so far this year, an alarming number for the

Sheriff's Department, which is already under investigation by the state over conditions in local lockups. According to LA Times reporter Salvador Hernandez, right now, the sheriff's department is on pace with 2025's in custody death rate when 46 inmates died. For years, incarcerated individuals have been subjected to inhumane conditions and systemic

neglect. In September, California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the Sheriff's Department,

alleging filthy vermin-infested cells, broken toilets, and lack of medical care. Conditions that, according to the state,

are unconstitutional and could be contributing to preventable deaths. These conditions aren't new.

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