US adds cameras at Mexico border despite drop in crossings

WHEC (NBC- Rochester, NY) ^ | April 22, 2020 | JAMES LAPORTA and JULIE WATSON

[BeauBo]

The Trump administration has been quietly adding military surveillance cameras at the U.S.-Mexico border in response to the coronavirus pandemic...

Documents obtained by The Associated Press show the Department of Defense, at the request of the Department of Homeland Security, sent 60 mobile surveillance cameras and 540 additional troops to the southwest border this month...

The addition of the mobile cameras, which are are mounted in the back of trucks, bring the total to 192, according to the documents...

As of Sunday, the 60 added mobile surveillance cameras planned to be manned and operational, according to the documents...

With the additional troops, about 3,000 active-duty service members are on the border along with 2,500 National Guard troops. Barred from law enforcement duties, they have kept a low profile and are largely doing on-the-ground surveillance.

The border mission - marking one of the longest deployments of active-duty troops to the border in U.S. history - has cost more than $500 million since October 2017. The Defense Department also has reallocated nearly $10 billion to building Trump's border wall.

"The U.S. border is the most militarized peacetime border in the world, and the border is more militarized today than it ever was in the entire history of our two countries."

[BeauBo]

This might also be part of the big crackdown on drug smuggling, that the Military has stepped up during the pandemic.

These types of (similar) Mobile Surveillance Systems (MSS) are being purchased for Border Patrol to own and operate on their own, in just one of several large Technology Program rollouts that are now happening - in addition to the big Wall System construction Program. Each of these systems can monitor several miles out. Border Patrol is getting about 100 more of their own this year, and another 100 or so next year. So the Military may just be covering the mission, until Border Patrol can stand up their own organic capability.

These systems can move within hours, as smuggler routes shift, setting up new ambushes to catch them. Not being tied to the border itself, they can create a deep band of detection and tracking, many miles in from the border itself, monitoring trails, choke points, supply points or meeting points.

[jmaroneps37]

Media, “And we were hoping he would forget that! Waa waa waa.”

[Sacajaweau]

Gee...like we didn’t know this would be a component of the wall.

[eartick]

Excellent. This combined with boots with proper ROEs is just as good as having a wall.

[Sacajaweau]

Militarized?? I don’t see any troops with machine guns and dogs.

[Mr. K]

Because duhhhhhhhhhhhhhh… maybe criminals would want to take advantage of this current situation and step up smuggling over the border?

(not you BeauBo - the article author)

[Flavious_Maximus]

“...as cost more than $500 million since October 2017”

That’s peanuts compared to the 35 million illegals in this county that have their hand inside the welfare jar, anchor babies and all.

Along with cameras, we should place a few Gatling guns on a turret. Just the sight of it may be enough to keep a few of the invader leaches away.

[yldstrk]

Wuhan virus spreading through the immigration system and the meatpacking plants?

[BobL]

“The Defense Department also has reallocated nearly $10 billion to building Trump’s border wall.”

Where, at Mar Lago or something? If it’s at the Mexican border, then it’s the “Southern Border Wall”.

[BobL]

“Southern border expert David Shirk...”

Does his business card say that, when the article later says he’s just a political science professor? Or is this an attempt to give him some credibility against Trump?

[chief lee runamok]

""The U.S. border is the most militarized peacetime border in the world, and the border is more militarized today than it ever was in the entire history of our two countries.""

I guess the Israeli border doesn't count.

[PIF]

Mobile Surveillance Systems camera sees bad guy, notifies air command, air command picks type of interceptor for either Day or Night, sends Mr Ghost or Mr Brrret to take care of the problem - no need for troops, dogs, alligators, etc.

[BobL]

“The U.S. border is the most militarized peacetime border in the world”

How about Israel/Syria, or China/Russia? Yet another claim made WITHOUT evidence. Two soldiers every mile is not exactly WW3.

[moovova]

Ominously, a waste of money when the USA should be buying a ventilators for every US citizen...maybe floating a US Navy hospital ship to Kansas.

/s

[ConservativeInPA]

The Trump administration has been quietly adding military surveillance cameras at the U.S.-Mexico border in response to the coronavirus pandemic, though fewer people appear to be crossing illegally.

Is it me? When NBC reports something and uses the words, "military surveillance", I get the feeling they are doing a hit job on Trump. As if military surveillance is something ominous or evil. While I have absolutely no problem with the military being on our border, the Rat base does. So this was written to upset Rats.

As for fewer people appear to be crossing illegally, perhaps that has something with the added military and cameras, and oh yeah, the flu.

[BeauBo]

“...like we didn’t know this would be a component of the wall.”

The Administration likes to use the term “Wall System”, in stead of just “Wall”, because it is so chock full of technology, as well as the access/patrol road, that adds so much to the overall effectiveness.

Detection rates can approach 100% with the new stuff, and cameras operated from the command post can zoom right in to identify the situation. It is a very different ball game.

[BobL]

“That’s despite the U.S. having the most cases in the world by far.”

Perhaps because we also have the most people of any country that is attempting to provide accurate numbers. Look at the case-rates in Europe - pretty much the same as here, and much higher death rates there.

[TangoLimaSierra]

Anyone remember the border cameras from years ago? We could watch anytime and even alert BP if we saw border crashers. I did a couple of times when some came across on a rafts. I was damned cool.
Thousands of people working for nada for the BP.

[BeauBo]

“The U.S. border is the most militarized peacetime border in the world”

“I guess the Israeli border doesn’t count.”

...or the Inter-Korean Border, or the Indian-Pakistani border, or the current Greek-Turkish border, etc.

“Journalists”. Sheesh.

[BobL]

“Detection rates can approach 100% with the new stuff, and cameras operated from the command post can zoom right in to identify the situation. It is a very different ball game.”

You can read the WORRY in the words of the Leftists who wrote this ‘report’. I figured the cameras worked, which is why AP had to go on the attack, rather than simply ignoring them. The cartels are likely complaining to that ‘Southern border expert’ clown, and he contacted AP.