TEXAS/MEXICO BORDER: GEOGRAPHY/ISSUES/CHALLENGES
The Mexican border with the State of Texas is a large, rugged and sparsely populated area covering approximately 1,254 miles of the total 1,900 miles of American border territory with Mexico. The river that makes the natural border along the Western and Southwestern part of the state, the Rio Grande, is one of the major means of illegal entry for individuals wishing to enter the United States. The varying patterns of the Rio Grande are responsible for areas measuring less than 75 yards in width, making aquatic entry an enticing and relatively simple solution. Texas has a notoriously porous border and has been exploited for this reason for decades, the agents of the United States Customs and
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soil. The formation of the Special Operations (SOG) a coupling of 2 elite CBP units: BORTAC (Border Patrol Tactical Unit) is a rapidly deployable, high risk incident response team, utilizing specialized tactics and skill sets. TAC is unique in its global response and joint training capabilities and operations on both foreign and domestic soil. Deployed as a support element for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and implementing tactics learned from their counterparts from the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). TAC responsibilities include, high risk warrant service, intelligence gathering, reconnaissance and surveillance, expansion of BP capacity with foreign law enforcement, airmobile operations, maritime interdiction and the use of precision marksman and observers (Sniper/Spotter) teams. Operators also implement a sharing of their specialized skills to BP field agents in an effort to force multiply. The 2nd unit comprising SOG is the Search Trauma and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR), who provide CBP and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with solutions to uncommon and dangerous situations, in addition to Search and Rescue and advanced medical response capabilities. SOG IV (Intelligence Unit) and Mobile Response Teams (MRT) are SOG designated assets equipped to deliver real-time, …show more content…
Approximately 20 Predator B’s in use by the CBP. WASP-2.5 foot wingspan makes the unit single-operator capable, can be carried in backpack and deployed deep within rugged terrain. Utilized by Texas DPS(SOG) in sparsely populated areas along Texas/ Mexico border.
PROS: Full range of advanced surveillance and intelligence (i.e. high powered zoom lens, night vision, see-through technology ‘dust, clouds, buildings and foliage’, video analytics and vise distribution. Becoming increasingly more affordable, making the probability of mass production likely. Longer flight time capabilities for the smaller WASP and RAVEN drone models. Decreased maintenance time and man-power needs.
CONS: Supreme Court ruling that the 4th Amendment “ Does not categorically prohibit the government from carrying out warrantless, aerial surveillance of private property”. Leading to concerns over pervasive surveillance, and police and federal “fishing expeditions” in abuse of these tools.
Predator B-$3,000 an hour to operate and has a 1hour per flight time to 1 hour of maintenance