The Center for International Policy recently released a report entitled “Drones Over the Homeland,” which provides an excellent analysis of CBP’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle program from inception to the present.
The report, written by Tom Barry, is well-worth reading, even if it leaves out a direct reference to a government-funded Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) that largely confirms Barry’s findings. The AoA has been cited in several GAO reports about border security technology deployments and also questions the cost-effectiveness of flying Predator UAVs for border surveillance purposes.
The Center for International Policy report is a bit “heavy” in its effort to tie political contributions to UAV procurements and policy. Yet, the report adds significantly to the debate Congress should be having, though to date, it is not. I hope congressional appropriators will take note.
