Quick Hit:

Nearly a third of cameras in the Border Patrol's primary surveillance system along the U.S.-Mexico border are out of order according to an internal memo obtained by NBC News.

Key Details:

• Approximately 30% of the 500 surveillance cameras positioned along the southern U.S. border are currently inoperable due to technical issues, affecting Border Patrol's ability to monitor critical areas.

• The camera systems, in use since 2011, have become outdated, contributing to the breakdown. Repairs are ongoing, but over 150 cameras still need fixing.

• The Federal Aviation Administration, responsible for maintaining the systems, has been criticized for failing to meet Border Patrol’s repair needs. Border officials are considering switching to a private contractor to handle repairs.

Diving Deeper:

A significant portion of the U.S. Border Patrol’s surveillance cameras along the southern border are malfunctioning, according to an internal memo obtained by NBC News. The memo, sent in early October, reveals that 30% of the cameras in the agency’s Remote Video Surveillance Systems (RVSS) are currently out of service due to several technical problems. The breakdown affects around 150 of the 500 cameras stationed on towers along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The surveillance system, which has been in place since 2011, is a critical tool for monitoring vast stretches of the border without needing to deploy agents. With so many cameras out of operation, large sections of the border are left unmonitored, significantly impacting Border Patrol operations. "The nationwide issue is having significant impacts on [Border Patrol] operations," reads the internal memo, which was circulated among agents stationed along the southern border.

Officials speaking to NBC News on condition of anonymity blamed outdated equipment and long-standing repair issues for the camera outages. While some repairs have been made this month, more than 150 requests for camera maintenance are still outstanding. These technical problems have left certain areas entirely out of view for Border Patrol agents, increasing concerns about illegal crossings and officer safety.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has made efforts to modernize the system by installing approximately 300 new towers equipped with advanced technology, including artificial intelligence and machine learning. A CBP spokesperson said these upgrades would "reduce the need to have agents working non-interdiction functions."

However, the camera outages are not just a result of technical failures but also bureaucratic challenges. According to the memo, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is responsible for maintaining the cameras, has struggled to meet the needs of the Border Patrol. The FAA's internal issues have hindered timely repairs, prompting Border Patrol leadership to consider replacing the FAA with a contractor who could provide "adequate technical support for the cameras."

The issue has raised concerns among Border Patrol agents, particularly in areas like Laredo, Texas, where the Border Patrol union posted on Facebook, highlighting the potential security risks posed by the broken cameras. "We hope this issue is resolved soon as the problem has been ongoing for quite some time!" the union said in its statement, adding that taxpayers expect their investments in border security technology to be fully operational.

With border security remaining a hot-button issue, the breakdown of the RVSS cameras underscores the ongoing challenges in securing the southern border and the need for technological upgrades to keep pace with increasing demands.