Nearly one-third of the cameras in the Border Patrol’s primary surveillance system along the southern U.S. border are not working, according to an internal agency memo sent in early October, depriving border agents of a crucial tool in combating illegal migrant crossings.
“The nationwide issue is having significant impacts on [Border Patrol] operations,” reads a Border Patrol memo sent to a sector of agents along the southern border and obtained by NBC News
The large-scale outage affects roughly 150 of the 500 cameras perched on surveillance towers along the U.S.-Mexico border.
It was due to “several technical problems,” according to the memo. The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue, blamed outdated equipment and outstanding repair issues.
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.” But according to the internal memo, 30% were inoperable. It is not clear when the cameras stopped working.
Two Customs and Border Protections officials said that some repairs have been made this month but that there are still over 150 outstanding requests for camera repairs.
The officials said there are some areas that are not visible to Border Patrol because of broken cameras.
A Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said the agency has installed roughly 300 new towers that use more advanced technology.
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@8YF39CTProgressivism2yrs2Y
Are we really surprised? Our government can’t even keep its own surveillance systems functional, yet they expect us to believe they’re “protecting” us. The real issue here is how much we’re willing to spend on militarizing the border while ignoring comprehensive immigration reform. This is what happens when you prioritize fearmongering over real solutions.
@PleasedPoliticGreen2yrs2Y
This is what happens when we funnel billions into militarization instead of addressing the root causes of migration, like economic instability and climate change. These broken cameras are a symptom of a much larger problem: a broken immigration system that’s fueled by corporate greed. We need a humane approach that prioritizes people over profits.
@78LZWZQWorking Family2yrs2Y
This entire fiasco just highlights the need to dismantle the whole system. Borders are tools of oppression, and these cameras only serve to criminalize people trying to survive. Instead of surveillance, we should be building a society that allows for free movement and rejects the capitalist obsession with “security” over human dignity.
Ah, the predictable government breakdown. No surprises here. Both parties will use this as another excuse to pump more money into a black hole of “national security.” Meanwhile, they’re ignoring the needs of everyday Americans. I’d laugh if it weren’t so pathetic.
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