US adds cameras at Mexico border despite drop in crossings

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


James Laporta and Julie Watson, Associated Press
Updated 4:09 pm CDT, Wednesday, April 22, 2020

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Trump administration has been quietly adding military surveillance cameras at the U.S.-Mexico border in response to the coronavirus pandemic, though fewer people appear to be crossing illegally. It's the latest move as operations at the U.S.-Mexico border have become increasingly militarized and secretive.

Documents obtained by The Associated Press show the Department of Defense, at the request of the Department of Homeland Security, sent 60 mobile surveillance cameras and 540 additional troops to the southwest border this month. The documents are unclassified but for official use only and were part of PowerPoint slides created last week to brief Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson, commander of U.S. Army North, the primary unit overseeing military operations at the border.

The cameras will stay in place until the pandemic has ended, said Matthew Dyman, a spokesman for Customs and Border Protection, which is under the Department of Homeland Security. He said he couldn't immediately explain why the cameras are needed, adding that the request was “law enforcement sensitive."

Apprehensions of people crossing illegally have declined by 77% since a peak in May, according to Customs and Border Protection. April figures have not been released yet but are expected to be even lower.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/article/US-adds-cameras-at-Mexico-border-despite-drop-in-15219308.php

[machoneman]

1. Why? Paranoid Stephen Miller, I'm sure.

He's likely not only involved but leading the charge. Oh, those wetbacks will take advantage of our problems and start surging across the border, hordes and gangs of them!

Yah, sure as Border Patrol says activity is donw over 70%. So much for looking through the lense of a cushy D.C. offcie at the White House. Btw, how ever did a Nazi like him get into the WH?

[erronis]

2. My guess is the cameras will stay in place. And more of The Wall will be built (substandard)

The trumpistas and filthy rich are really prepping for the end of civilization as we know it.

They also know climate change is real and mass starvation, flooding, crises of humanity are in the future.

They also want to get their armed maggots to kill off the rest of the lower classes before the maggots are reduced to eating each other.

Then they can sit back and enjoy "The Land Of The Free" in peace.

(Sorry, I've been watching too much reality.)

[rocktivity]

3. the way this virus is going, those cameras will be needed

When infected and uninfected Americans seeking medical care start crossing the border into Mexico!


rocktivity

[SergeStorms]

4. Because the federal government has....

so much money to waste on this kind of shit now. I'm so glad the Trump administration has it's priorities straight.