Most people near border surveillance towers don't know what they are
Over 1 million residents across the U.S. and Mexico live within sight of cameras that can see in detail up to two miles off.
The Headlines · The A.I.-Powered Cameras Watching Border Towns, and a Midterms Attack Ad Causes OutrageMost people who live within sight of the government's border surveillance towers do not know what they are.
Over 1 million residents across the United States and Mexico live in view of the expanding system. The towers stand from California to Texas, overlooking schools, homes, parks and beaches, and many nearby residents mistake them for cell towers.
Each tower carries cameras that can capture detailed views up to two miles off, with motion detecting radar, infrared vision and artificial intelligence that can follow cars and individuals. The cameras form a network, so a person spotted in one view can be followed across others.
Among residents who are aware of the towers, some said they do not want the government watching them, while others said the towers feel like a normal part of life on the border.
Questions people ask
Are more of these towers planned?
Yes. Federal authorities have secured funding to install about 1,500 of the towers. The plan goes beyond the southern border to include areas near Canada, Puerto Rico, and coastal areas across the United States.
Have officials said whether the towers work?
Customs and Border Protection called the towers essential to border security. But in response to questions, officials did not provide any information about how effective the towers have been at catching migrants or drug smugglers.