A new United States Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report reveals the U.S. Border Patrol’s small drone program is falling short of its full potential due to critical technical and oversight failures.
The mobile drones have successfully helped agents apprehend suspects and seize illegal goods along land borders. However, inspectors uncovered major roadblocks.
Federal restrictions tightly limit which manufacturers the agency can buy from. Once deployed, the aircraft frequently suffer technical breakdowns, leaving some grounded for extended periods due to maintenance delays. Compounding the issue, investigators found the agency’s own record keeping is too inconsistent and unreliable to properly manage the program.
