Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, is demanding answers from DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas regarding a significant failure in border surveillance technology. Green has asked Mayorkas to provide details on the operational status of Remote Video Surveillance System (RVSS) towers along the U.S.-Mexico border, which are crucial for monitoring illegal activity.
An internal Border Patrol memo revealed that about one-third of the cameras used along the 2,000-mile southern border are not functioning properly. Green sent a letter to Mayorkas, giving him until October 23 to deliver documents and explain the status of these critical cameras.
Green’s office has cited sources within DHS confirming that around two-thirds of the cameras are offline and haven’t been repaired. This has hindered Border Patrol agents’ ability to track illegal crossings, raising concerns that it could lead to underreporting of “gotaways” — individuals who cross the border undetected.
Additionally, a recent Customs and Border Protection (CBP) review found issues with contractors hired to work on the cameras. Many of these contractors were not properly vetted by CBP, and the agency could not confirm whether some workers were even U.S. citizens.
Green’s demands come at a time when border security remains a major concern for conservatives, as millions of illegal immigrants have entered the U.S. under the Biden-Harris administration.
