Last Updated on October 20, 2024
At least thirty percent of the Border Patrol’s cameras focused along the US-Mexico border are not functioning, according to a FaceBook memo posted by the National Border Patrol Council Local 2455.
“USBP HQ is aware that many camera towers along the borders are inoperable, and they are currently ‘working’ on fixing the issue,” wrote Local 2455 president Hector Garza on October 11. He continued:
We hope this issue is resolved soon, as the problem has been ongoing for quite some time! The American Taxpayer has made significant investments in technology along the border, and they expect that this technology is operational.
NBC News reported that the outage consists of almost 150 of the 500 cameras on roughly 300 surveillance towers monitoring the US southern border. The outlet claimed CBP officials pointed toward “outdated equipment and outstanding repair issues.”
The surveillance system, known as Remote Video Surveillance Systems, has been in place since 2011 to “survey large areas without having to commit hundreds of agents,” read the NBC News report. CBP officials told the outlet that repairs have been made this month, but there are over 150 inquiries for other camera repairs. The Border Patrol also insisted to NBC News that there is broken visibility at the border due to the lack of functioning 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to install newer, more advanced technology that embrace artificial intelligence and machine learning to replace outdated systems, reducing the need to have agents working non-interdiction functions.
Strangely, the problem is reportedly not solely with the Border Patrol but rather with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), according to NBC News. The FAA, which repairs the monitoring systems and cameras, has had “internal problems meeting the needs of the Border Patrol.”
The original memo obtained by NBC News indicates that the FAA will be sending assistance for the cameras and that the Border Patrol is considering replacing the FAA with “adequate technical support for the cameras.”
RELATED: FEMA is Running Out of Hurricane Money Thanks to Open Borders
The outlet also noted that another CBP official sounded off on the camera problems as being mismanaged for more than 20 years now.
