A significant number of surveillance cameras monitoring the southern U.S. border are reportedly malfunctioning, raising concerns about the true extent of migrant “gotaways” who avoid detection. Approximately 30% of the cameras are currently out of service, which sources fear may mean that the actual number of individuals slipping through undetected is far higher than official reports suggest.

NBC News, citing an internal Border Patrol memo, revealed that around 150 of the 500 cameras are nonfunctional due to various technical issues. The memo, addressed to Border Patrol agents, stressed that “The nationwide issue is having significant impacts on [Border Patrol] operations.”

These surveillance cameras, part of the Remote Video Surveillance Systems used by the federal government since 2011, have been crucial in monitoring large stretches of the border, eliminating the need for hundreds of agents to patrol those areas by vehicle. With many cameras now inoperable, portions of the border are no longer visible to agents.

A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) insider told The Post that the surveillance equipment plays a vital role in tracking migrant “gotaways”—individuals who manage to evade capture. According to this source, the actual number of such incidents is “way more than reported” because the cameras are currently offline.

Under the Biden-Harris administration, over 1.7 million “gotaways” have been recorded crossing the border illegally. However, the same CBP source added, “no one knows the true number.” Another agency official voiced concern, stating, “We are missing a bunch of traffic we should be detecting. Who knows what’s getting by.”

The camera outages are being attributed to outdated equipment and unresolved repair issues, as reported by NBC. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), responsible for maintaining the surveillance systems, has struggled to address the problems. The memo indicates that the agency is now looking for contractors to carry out the necessary repairs.

A Border Patrol union chapter in Laredo, Texas, recently highlighted the serious safety and security risks caused by the malfunctioning cameras. In a statement, the union called for a swift resolution, emphasizing that “The American taxpayer has made significant investments in technology along the border, and they expect that this technology is operational.”

While some repairs have been completed, the backlog of camera repairs is substantial, with 150 repair requests still pending. On a more positive note, CBP has installed approximately 300 new camera towers with enhanced capabilities.

A spokesperson for CBP explained that the agency is actively working to replace outdated systems with newer, more advanced technology that incorporates artificial intelligence and machine learning, thereby reducing the need for agents to perform non-interdiction tasks.

{Matzav.com}