Mexico claims that U.S. firearms manufacturers know their guns are trafficked into the country and that they intentionally target the Mexican market, including drug cartels.

The Supreme Court on Thursday tossed out a lawsuit from the Mexican government that alleged American gun manufacturers should be held responsible for cartel violence on the Southwest border, a decision that shields the companies from a suit that had claimed billions in damages.

The Supreme Court tossed Mexico's $10-billion lawsuit against U.S. gun makers, but the case forced U.S. officials to acknowledge that thousands of guns are smuggled into Mexico from the United States.