Border Patrol Surveillance System Struggles as Nearly One-Third of Cameras Fail Along Southern U.S. Border, ISC East Sessions Highlight Video Surveillance Best Practices

An internal memo reveals that almost one-third of the cameras in the Border Patrol’s primary surveillance network along the U.S.-Mexico border are out of service, which significantly impacts the agency's ability to monitor illegal crossings.

Between 150 of the 500 Remote Video Surveillance System (RVSS) cameras stationed on towers throughout the border region are impacted, according to the memo obtained by NBC News. Officials attribute the problem to outdated equipment and unresolved technical issues, leading to gaps in coverage that leave certain areas unmonitored by Border Patrol agents.

Video Surveillance is one of the bedrock technologies enabling security professionals to protect the people and property their organizations have put under their care. ISC East will again feature the latest hardware and analytics software on its expo floor this November. In addition, the conference will feature several sessions describing new use cases and technology trends in the space.

The Border Patrol memo highlights that the camera system, which has been in operation since 2011, allows agents to monitor large stretches of the border remotely. The technology reduces the need to deploy hundreds of agents in the field. However, with nearly 30% of the cameras currently inoperable, border operations are facing "significant impacts," according to news reports.

According to the memo, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), responsible for maintaining and repairing the cameras, has struggled to meet the agency's needs. Although the FAA plans to send personnel to address the issues, the memo does not elaborate on the nature of the internal challenges affecting FAA operations.

Border Patrol leadership is reportedly exploring options to replace the FAA with a private contractor to ensure the cameras receive “adequate technical support.”

While some repairs have been completed this month, over 150 repair requests remain unresolved. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials say that it stems from years of mismanagement, according to reporting. A CBP spokesperson said the agency is gradually replacing outdated systems by installing 300 new surveillance towers equipped with artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to reduce the burden on agents.