FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Hearing on Border Security Technology

Original title: BORDER SECURITY GADGETS, GIZMOS, AND INFORMATION: USING TECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND OPERATIONAL CONTROL

January 1, 2017

border security technology homeland security procurement customs and border protection

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing examines the federal strategy and spending priorities for border surveillance technology, which directly impacts how the U.S. monitors and manages activity along the 2,000-mile Southwest border.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

The agency is responsible for implementing the technology procurement and operational strategies discussed.

Border residents

Residents living near the border may be affected by the deployment of new surveillance technologies in their vicinity.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2017.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is a transcript of a 2016 House Subcommittee hearing regarding the use of technology, such as surveillance and sensors, to assist in securing the U.S. Southern Border. The hearing focused on how Customs and Border Protection (CBP) procures and deploys these tools to improve in difficult terrain.

Key Facts

The hearing was held on May 24, 2016, by the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
The primary focus was the procurement and deployment of technology to increase situational awareness along the 2,000-mile Southwest border.
The subcommittee discussed the limitations of relying solely on manpower in rugged and remote border terrain.
Witnesses included representatives from the U.S. Border Patrol, Office of Air and Marine Operations, Office of Technology Innovation and Acquisition, and the Government Accountability Office.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?

The hearing was held to review how the U.S. government uses technology, such as sensors and surveillance equipment, to monitor and secure the Southern border.

Who testified at the hearing?

Officials from the U.S. Border Patrol, the Office of Air and Marine Operations, the Office of Technology Innovation and Acquisition, and the Government Accountability Office provided testimony.

Why It Matters

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Emphasis on Technology over Manpower

The hearing highlights a strategic shift toward using technology to supplement manpower in remote border areas where human access is difficult.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Connected Entities

personMartha McSally“Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security”Map →

organizationU.S. Government Accountability Office“Provided oversight and testimony regarding border technology”Map →

personRonald Vitiello“Acting Chief, U.S. Border Patrol”Map →

organizationU.S. Customs and Border Protection“Primary agency responsible for border security operations”Map →

personRebecca Gambler“Director, Homeland Security and Justice, GAO”Map →

personRandolph D. Alles“Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Air and Marine Operations”Map →

personMark Borkowski“Assistant Commissioner, Office of Technology Innovation and Acquisition”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance60
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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