Nearly one-third of the cameras in the US Border Patrol’s primary surveillance system along the southern US border are not working. That’s according to a memo released internally within the Border Patrol, and it’s a huge obstacle for agents trying to secure the border.
The outage affects roughly 150 of the 500 cameras, and according to the memo the FAA is to blame because they oversee the systems and repairs. The FAA is supposed to send workers to fix the cameras.
For now, Border Patrol leaders are considering replacing the FAA with a contractor that can “provide adequate technical support for the cameras.”
The camera systems, known as Remote Video Surveillance Systems, have been used since 2011 to “survey large areas without having to commit hundreds of agents in vehicles to perform the same function.” Officials say there are some areas that are not visible to Border Patrol because of broken cameras.
“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to install newer, more advanced technology that embrace artificial intelligence and machine learning to replace outdated systems, reducing the need to have agents working non-interdiction functions,” a spokesperson said.
The Border Patrol union in Laredo, Texas noted the issue last week on Facebook. It told its members that it “shares your concerns that inoperable camera towers along the border are causing serious officer safety and border security concerns.”
“We hope this issue is resolved soon as the problem has been ongoing for quite some time!” the union added in the post. “The American taxpayer has made significant investments in technology along the border, and they expect that this technology is operational.”
