A recent Border Patrol memo indicates that 30% of the agency’s main surveillance system cameras along the southern border between the United States and Mexico are not working properly, making it easier for illegal immigrants to cross into the United States without being detected.
The internal Border Patrol memo, which was sent to agents at the southern border earlier this month and obtained by NBC News, states, “The nationwide issue is having significant impacts on [Border Patrol] operations.”
According to NBC News, the surveillance system issue is currently affecting approximately 150 of the 500 cameras installed on the U.S. southern border’s surveillance towers and is being caused by “several technical problems.” Anonymous Border Patrol officials told NBC News that the technical issues are due to outdated equipment and repair problems.
NBC News reported that the Border Patrol’s Remote Video Surveillance Systems have been utilized since 2011 to “survey large areas without having to commit hundreds of agents in vehicles to perform the same function.”
Two Customs and Border Protections officials told NBC News that while some surveillance camera repairs have been made in the past month, the agency still has over 150 requests for camera repairs. The officials also acknowledged that some areas of the border are not currently visible to the agency due to the broken camera system.
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NBC News reported that a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said approximately 300 new towers with more advanced technology have been installed by the agency.
The spokesperson told NBC News, “CBP continues to install newer, more advanced technology that embrace artificial intelligence and machine learning to replace outdated systems, reducing the need to have agents working non-interdiction functions.”
The Border Patrol’s internal memo blamed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the surveillance camera issues. NBC News reported that the FAA is responsible for servicing and repairing the Border Patrol’s systems. While the memo noted that the FAA will send employees to fix the camera issues, it indicated that the Border Patrol is considering replacing the FAA with a different contractor to provide ” “adequate technical support for the cameras.”
Last week, the National Border Patrol Council Local 2455, which is based in Laredo, Texas, acknowledged the surveillance camera issue in a post on Facebook. The Border Patrol union wrote, “USBP HQ is aware that many camera towers along the border are inoperable and they are currently ‘working’ on fixing this issue.”
After acknowledging that the issue has been “ongoing for quite some time,” the union added, “The American taxpayer has made significant investments in technology along the border, and they expect that this technology is operational.”
