DHS is under fire from GOP after whistleblowers allege Border Patrol surveillance cameras are not functioning properly.

Bill Melguin and Griff Jenkins of Planet Chronicle have been reporting on issues raised by Border Patrol sources regarding the failure of crucial remote surveillance cameras in several sectors along the southern border over the past year.

Last week, whistleblowers informed the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee that some of the busiest Southwest border sectors have over 50 cameras offline, with multiple towers out of service for more than a year.

Last week, whistleblowers informed the House Homeland Security Committee of their concerns regarding an issue, which the committee then sent a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about on Wednesday.

The letter from Republicans to Mayorkas demanded answers.

The committee alleges that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for repairing the cameras and has been improperly contracting to companies with non-US citizen employees, who may be physically manipulating the equipment on the camera towers, in violation of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) policy.

The surveillance cameras are crucial for Border Patrol to monitor migrant evaders, smugglers, gotaways, and large groups. However, the malfunction of so many of them poses a significant challenge to Border Patrol, according to committee sources.

"Last week, the Committee learned from multiple sources that over 66% of the cameras in the RVSS-U program are inoperable. Some of the busiest Southwest border sectors have up to 50 or more cameras offline, with multiple towers out of service for over a year."

In a statement to Planet Chronicle, the Border Patrol union said:

The National Border Patrol Council's vice president, Art Del Cueto, stated that the current situation of ineptness from the administration highlights the out-of-touchness of DHS leadership. This not only affects the country's security by not knowing who or what is entering, but it also endangers the safety of frontline agents.

Nearly one-third of cameras on surveillance towers, approximately 150 out of 500, were not functioning due to technical problems, according to an October memo reported by NBC News.

The memo stated that the nationwide issue was significantly affecting Border Patrol operations.

The RVSS, which are nearly 15 years old, are used to monitor areas of the border without requiring regular on-the-ground patrols. Agents will use a range of detection and surveillance methods, including AI-powered towers, helicopters, K-9s, the border wall, and themselves, to secure the border.

The advanced surveillance towers, equipped with AI, have proven helpful in tracking migrants and assisting agents in locating them. Over 300 of these towers have been deployed by CBP.

Officials argue that RVSS is an outdated, expensive system that requires frequent maintenance and specialized personnel to monitor the cameras, in contrast to the newer systems that employ AI and instantly alert agents.

"CBP is upgrading its technology with AI and machine learning to replace outdated systems, allowing agents to focus on interdiction functions within a local command center."

The National Border Patrol Council's Laredo, Texas branch has expressed concerns about the safety and security of the border due to inoperable camera towers.

The report is released as border security remains a top concern before the 2024 election. Both Trump and Harris have promised to increase funding for the southern border and are trying to demonstrate their commitment to securing it to win over voters.

Planet Chronicle' Adam Shaw and Griff Jenkins contributed to this report.