Border securityDHS IG questions value of CBP’s border drone program

DHS’s 8-years-old drone program, now consisting of nine drones operating in Arizona, Texas, and North Dakota, has been unsuccessful, according to a just-released DHS inspector general report. CBS News reported that Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) expected 23,000 total flight hours per year, but it only logged about 5,100 in fiscal year 2013.

“We see no evidence that the drones contribute to a more secure border,” Inspector General John Roth said.

The program, administered by CBP, paid roughly $12,255 an hour to fly its drones, operated them for less than it had promised, and mainly used them to cover just 170 miles of the U.S. border. A 2014 Government Accountability Office report mentioned that a fifth of CBP drone flights were conducted within the interior of the United States and beyond the 100-mile range of operations of CBP jurisdiction points.

The inspector general’s report notes that drones helped in less than 2 percent of apprehensions of illegal immigrants, but CBP officials insist that there are other measures to prove the program’s effectiveness in helping secure the border. Last year, the drone program contributed to the seizure of almost $253 million worth of cocaine and marijuana. It also led to weapons seizures, and arrests. Drones do a good job of identifying incursions and should not be judged based on the number of apprehensions, the agency said.

The Washington Times reports that Roth has been a long-time critic of CBP’s drone program, questioning the agency’s ability to maintain the drones. He also questioned the agency’s plans to lend the drones to other federal agencies. In his recommendation, Roth urged the CBP to cancel its $443 million order for more drones.

CBP has defended the drone program, calling it an important addition to its efforts to patrol the border. The agency has denied claims it planned to purchase fourteen more drones, saying it only plans to enhance the existing program and replace one drone that “ditched” off the coast of California in 2014 — that drone cost about $12 million. “There is no intent at this time to acquire additional [drones] beyond the one replacement aircraft, nor does OAM have a contract or finding in place to expand the [drone] program,” said Randolph D. Alles, head of CBP’s Office of Air and Marine. Still, Roth believes the agency has “long-term” plans to expand its fleet to twenty-four aircrafts.

In 2013, when CBP operated ten drones at an estimated $62 million a year, it accounted for 2,200 illegal border crossing arrests. “So if you do the math on that, it’s about $27,000 per apprehension which seems like a lot of money,” said Roth. “So I think Customs and Border Protection has a lot of work to do to increase the effectiveness of the program.”