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The CBP's (Customs and Border Patrol) drone squadron has been a tightly-held secret. Documents have been pried loose by FOIA lawsuits, but it's pretty clear the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and the CBP would rather not discuss its flying surveillance technology. Not that the CBP drones are strictly for patrolling our nation's borders. They've been spotted far inland, being used by law enforcement agencies taking advantage of the CBP's drone lending library.
Finally, more details on the CBP's drones have made their way into the public domain, thanks to an Office of the Inspector General report. [https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1391066/oig-15-17-dec14.pdf (pdf link)] The information contained in this document points to two seeming contradictions, albeit the sort of contradictions often found in government agencies that run long on Congressional support but short on effective oversight.
They're expensive: "We estimate that, in fiscal year 2013, it cost at least $62.5 million to operate the program, or about $12,255 per hour."
And they're worthless: Given the cost of the Unmanned Aircraft System program and its unproven effectiveness, CBP should reconsider its plan to expand the program. The $443 million that CBP plans to spend on program expansion could be put to better use by investing in alternatives, such as manned aircraft and ground surveillance assets.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday January 09 2015, @11:03PM
Imagine that. DHS has ASSumed dozens of duties, including anally probing airline passengers, that are not properly their duties at all. But, DHS refuses to do their proper duty of SECURING THE SOUTHERN BORDER! And, here they are, denigrating the one subordinate agency that actually does attempt to secure the border.
How many people still believe that DHS has America's interests at heart?
No one really knows what the real mission of DHS is, it is most certainly NOT to make American citizens more secure.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 1) by Anal Pumpernickel on Saturday January 10 2015, @06:33AM
The mission of the DHS is to violate the constitution and people's fundamental liberties, it seems. I'd much rather be less secure than allow them to go about doing this, even assuming their actions make us more secure.