Drones are US

Submitted by ub on

Half of the US Mexican border is being patrolled by drones to control desolate stretches lacking enforcement agents, camera towers, ground sensors, or fences. The same strategy will now be applied to the Canadian border.

Drones sweep remote mountains, canyons and rivers with a high-resolution video camera and return within three days for another video in the same spot, then officials with direct knowledge of the effort spoke with AP on condition of anonymity because details have not been made public. These two videos are analyzed with sophisticated software to identify the tracks of a farmer, his cows, or immigrants who entered the country illegally, or maybe a drug-laden vehicle.

The old fashioned approach of boots on the ground is over and out. The number of Border Patrol agents on the 1,954-mile border has doubled to surpass 18,000 and fencing nine fold to 700 miles.

Photo: AP M. York