Investigation Reveals Failures in US Border Surveillance Towers

The investigation into US border surveillance by MIT Technology Review found that over 1,050 people have died near surveillance towers since 2015. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operates approximately 800 of these towers, which were installed starting in 2015. In 2024 alone, more than 18 deaths occurred in a small desert area monitored by these towers. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has previously reported inaccuracies in data collection, with recommendations dating back to 2014 for better tracking of technology-assisted apprehensions.

The Border Safety Initiative Tracking System (BSITS), established in 2007, aims to track migrant deaths, but the effectiveness of the surveillance towers remains questionable. In 2022, CBP completed an analysis on tower effectiveness, but the results have not been made public. A former CBP official described the current situation as "spitting in the wind," indicating a lack of confidence in the system's efficacy. Additionally, Sarah Silva suggested that an audit of the system would be prudent, stating, "this feels like it’s not working."

In response to ongoing concerns, CBP launched the Missing Migrant Program in 2017 to prevent deaths, and by 2023, the GAO reported improvements in tracking. However, significant challenges remain, as the agency plans to triple the size of the virtual wall by 2034 with a budget of $1 billion. This follows a troubling trend of deaths near surveillance infrastructure, raising questions about the effectiveness of current border surveillance strategies.