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Original Date Announced
July 2, 2020CBP announces that the Autonomous Surveillance Towers (AST) system, used along the southern border to provide constant surveillance of the area, is a "program of record." This system was previously named "Innovative Towers." CBP will procure and deploy a total of 200 ASTs by 2022, which scan the environment with radar to detect movement, capture images, and analyze imagery to identify items of interest, such as people or vehicles.
[ID #999]
CBP’s Autonomous Surveillance Towers Declared a Program of Record along the Southwest BorderEffective Date
July 2, 2020Biden Administration Action: Approved/Retained
January 20, 2021U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 §2302
The Biden Administration showed its support for the implementation of surveillance towers in the “Deploying Smart Technology at the Southern Border" section of the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021. This bill was sent to Congress by President Biden on his first day in office but was not passed.
View DocumentBiden Administration Action: Approved/Retained
December 9, 20222022-12-09 CBP Releases RFP For Consolidated Border Surveillance Tower Program
On December 8, 2022, CBP announced requests for proposals under its Consolidated Tower and Surveillance Equipment (CTSE) program, which combines previous tower programs like the Integrated Fixed Tower (IFT) and Remote Video Surveillance System (RVSS). The agency estimates it will acquire 296 new surveillance towers to be used at both the northern and southwest borders, in addition to upgrading an estimated 191 legacy towers (including ASTs).
View DocumentCurrent Status
Fully in EffectMost Recent Action
December 9, 2022 Action: Approved/Retained 2022-12-09 CBP Releases RFP For Consolidated Border Surveillance Tower ProgramJanuary 20, 2021Acted on by Biden Administration
December 9, 2022Acted on by Biden Administration
Original Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/ActualTrump Administration Action: Change in PracticeSubject Matter: BorderAgencies Affected: CBP
Commentary
Congress, Don’t Give DHS Unrestricted Authority to Build a 'Smart Wall'
In 2019, the ACLU asked congressional appropriators to deny CBP funding for the so-called "smart wall," arguing that DHS had a poor track record for privacy protections and effective technology deployment.
Go to article on aclu.orgTrump administration hires tech firm to build a virtual border wall, an idea Democrats have praised
According to the Washington Post, the "program of record" designation makes the AST system a dedicated line item in DHS's budget.
Go to article2021.12.10 ‘A $10-Million Scarecrow’- The Quest for the Perfect ‘Smart Wall’.pdf
J. Weston Phippen shares his opinion on Andurail, the company contracted by both President Trump and President Biden to build 200 ASTs on the border. The author notes both Democrats and Republicans seem to be in favor of using technology as part of border security, but the article suggests companies are often unable to deliver on the devices they promise to build, and that ASTs are not necessarily more humane enforcement.
Go to articleCBP Is Expanding Its Surveillance Tower Program at the U.S.-Mexico Border–And We're Mapping It
The EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) released a new map and dataset of 290+ surveillance towers installed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) along the border with Mexico, in addition to the projected location of 50 new towers. They report that the CBP has earmarked $204 million for the CTSE (Consolidated Tower and Surveillance Equipment) or "Integrated Surveillance Tower" (IST) program in its 2023 and 2024 budgets. This would allow for 74 ASTs to be deployed by the end of FY 2024, and 100 by the end of 2025.
Go to article on eff.org