House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.) is urging Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to provide a detailed update on the operational status of Remote Video Surveillance System (RVSS) towers along the 2,000-mile southwest border. Green’s request follows a report that revealed nearly one-third of the cameras are not functioning, raising concerns about the security implications of the faulty surveillance infrastructure.
Just the News reports that Chairman Green issued a letter to Secretary Mayorkas, setting a deadline of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23, for DHS to provide documents and information regarding the camera system’s functionality. According to a statement from Green’s office, sources within DHS confirmed that approximately two-thirds of the RVSS cameras had gone offline and remained unrepaired. This situation has hindered Border Patrol agents’ ability to effectively monitor illegal entries, limiting their capability to detect and respond to incidents along the border.
“The failure to maintain these surveillance systems is not just a technical issue; it has real consequences for border security and the safety of American communities,” Green stated. The letter stressed the urgency of addressing the matter, given the vital role the RVSS plays in aiding agents’ efforts to track “known gotaways”—individuals who evade detection and cross into the U.S. illegally.
The House committee’s investigation into the RVSS system found that an internal review by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had uncovered significant issues with contractor oversight. According to Green’s office, CBP discovered that dozens of contractors responsible for working on the surveillance cameras were not even in the agency’s system, raising concerns about whether they had the necessary clearances. Moreover, CBP could not verify the citizenship status of several workers, prompting questions about the security of sensitive law enforcement technology.
The internal CBP memo obtained by the media had initially exposed that about one-third of the cameras along the southwest border were non-operational, bringing attention to broader challenges with maintaining the camera network. RVSS towers are strategically placed to help monitor and detect illegal crossings, providing a crucial surveillance tool for Border Patrol agents.
Chairman Green has called for increased transparency and accountability from DHS regarding border security assets, especially as the border continues to experience high levels of illegal crossings. The letter to Mayorkas requests detailed documentation on the RVSS towers’ current status, including any plans for repairs and information about contractor vetting processes.
“With roughly two-thirds of these cameras offline, there is an urgent need to address the gaps in border security that this equipment failure has created,” Green said, emphasizing the importance of restoring the system to full operational status. The letter also suggests that the malfunctioning surveillance infrastructure may be contributing to an undercounting of illegal crossings, as agents rely heavily on these cameras to monitor remote sections of the border.
The situation with the RVSS cameras has highlighted broader concerns over border security policies and resource management, with calls from lawmakers to ensure that technological assets used to secure the border are adequately maintained and staffed by qualified personnel. As the October 23 deadline approaches, the House Committee on Homeland Security awaits DHS’s response, seeking answers about what steps will be taken to repair the surveillance system and improve contractor oversight.
