Border Drones a Wasteful Giveaway, Study Says
As Congress considers whether to increase funding for border drones, a report released Wednesday found the technology to be "an inefficient, costly and absurd approach to border security and homeland security."
As Congress considers whether to increase funding for border drones, a report released Wednesday found the technology to be “an inefficient, costly and absurd approach to border security and homeland security.”
The Center for International Policy assessed the drone fleet belonging to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which includes seven Predators and three Guardians. A $443.1 million contract suggests the agency will acquire 14 more drones in the next three years.
— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.
Wait, before you go…Matt Sledge at The Huffington Post:
Despite the hundreds of millions spent by the agency for domestic drones, by Customs and Border Protection calculations, the weapons have played a supporting role in only 0.003 percent of drug seizures and 0.001 percent of illegal border crossing detentions.
Given those low numbers, [report author Tom] Barry said, Customs and Border Protection has now switched to a new justification for its drone fleet: law enforcement and national security. The agency is promising to work with the Department of Defense or local law enforcement agencies. That, Barry argued, should be cause for concern.
“I think we should be afraid, in terms of this breaking down of the distinction between domestic law enforcement and national security and foreign affairs,” Barry said. “That line has been criss-crossed many times with DHS.”
If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.
Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.
Support Truthdig
Some $500,000 have been siphoned from the union's El Paso chapter, raising new questions about lawlessness within the organization's ranks.
The 2020 hopeful and mayor of South Bend, Ind., has come under fire for his refusal to break the terms of a nondisclosure agreement.
Newly uncovered documents reveal the consulting giant helped ICE find “detention savings opportunities” by cutting food and medical care.
The Vermont senator pledges to address the root causes of mass immigration, with the aim of creating a "welcoming and safe nation for all."
The Trump administration is creating a center to provide agents with access to classified info. Experts warn this is very dangerous.
The Terrorist Screening Database, a post-9/11 watchlist that violates civil liberties, is deemed unconstitutional by a U.S. District Court judge.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.