Tag: Surveillance and Reconnaissance

February 18, 2021

February 26, 2021

A briefing published by the Transnational Institute shows how leading US border security contractors and their campaign contributions have helped shape a bipartisan movement to militarize the border over the last 3 decades. Top companies donated $40 million to both parties during the 2020 election cycle.

Tags: Border and Migration Politics, Surveillance and Reconnaissance

February 10, 2021

The Border Patrol’s Tethered Aerostat Radar System (also known as TARS or “eye in the sky”) is being dismantled, according to U.S. Rep Henry Cuellar. It costs $30 million per year to operate the blimps in South Texas, and it is being scrapped primarily to save money.

Tags: Border Patrol, Rio Grande Valley, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Technology

April 23, 2020

The Associated Press reports that the Trump administration has added 60 surveillance cameras at the southern border throughout the pandemic, though fewer people are crossing the border. A spokesman for CBP states that the cameras are manned by the military and will be removed after the pandemic.

Tags: Civil-Military Relations, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Technology

April 1, 2020

President Trump announces the launch of “enhanced counter-narcotics operations” by the military with increased “surveillance, seizures of drug shipment…and additional support.” Domestic military intelligence collection is an extremely controversial topic for the Department of Defense, which requires the National Guard to identify “intelligence” as “Incident Awareness and Assessment” (IAA) to avoid legal challenges.

Tags: Civil-Military Relations, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance