It is critical that we pursue new and improved technological solutions to secure the land and maritime borders of the United States.  This includes thermal camera systems, mobile surveillance systems and remote video surveillance systems.  We must also increase use of unmanned aerial capabilities which provide critical aerial surveillance assistance to personnel on the ground.

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But we have to be smart — and learn from past mistakes. 

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In November 2005, the Department of Homeland Security launched the Secure Border Initiative (SBI), a comprehensive multi-year plan to secure America’s borders and reduce illegal migration.  The original intent of the initiative was to: provide more agents to patrol our borders; secure our ports of entry and enforce immigration laws; expand detention and removal capabilities to eliminate “catch and release” once and for all; implement a comprehensive and systemic upgrade of the technology used in controlling the border, including increased manned aerial assets, expanded use of UAVs, and next-generation detection technology; increase investment in infrastructure improvements at the border — providing additional physical security to sharply reduce illegal border crossings; and to greatly increase interior enforcement of our immigration laws, including more robust worksite enforcement.  Between FY2005 and FY2010 SBI received around $4.5 billion in funding.

 

The results of the SBI were not good.  For example, one major element of SBI was SBInet which included a technology-based “virtual fence” to be constructed on the Southwestern border of the U.S. and Mexico.  Unfortunately, after major delays, an ill-equipped contractor (Boeing), mismanaged oversight, untested technology and blown budgets, DHS ultimately cancelled the program.  Unfortunately, this move came after we had already spent over a billion dollars on the "virtual fence" alone.  According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), "in January 2010, GAO reported that the number of new system defects identified over a 17 month period while testing was underway was generally increasing faster than the number of defects being fixed, not indicative of a maturing system.  Given the program’s shortcomings, in January 2010, the Secretary of Homeland Security ordered an assessment of the program, and in March 2010, the Secretary froze a portion of the program’s fiscal year 2010 funding (read the entire report here)."

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Congress authorized billions and billions and billions of dollars for the SBI program and, as far as we can tell, learned very little from its failure.   America!!  WE HAVE GOT TO LEARN FROM PAST MISTAKES AND GET SERIOUS ABOUT THIS! 

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Especially now, because in July 2020 the Trump administration awarded a massive border security contract to a California technology start-up.  The plan is to use artificial intelligence to achieve another “virtual wall.”  We are for this approach, but this needs to be watched very, very closely.

 

Throwing good money after bad is a habit this country can no longer afford.

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The good news is that we can absolutely do this!  We can listen to people on the ground (including border agents), learn from the past, correct the missteps, and build a strong system at the border.  The key is to have strong accountability and appropriate management and oversight.  Operation Overhaul can help with this.

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