Guardsman helped with the arrest of 23,034 illegal immigrants and seizures of more than 35,000 pounds of drugs (Marijuana, meth, heroin, & cocaine) in the six months they were deployed to the border in 2018, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Former DHS Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen testified that “illegal immigration is spiraling out of control and threatening public safety and national security.” She said apprehensions were on track to hit about 900,000 this year (Bloomberg, MAR 14, 2019).

Key to National Guard border security operations is the support provided to Law Enforcement Agents (LEA's) in the detection of transnational threats desiring entry to the homeland by land, maritime, or air conveyance along the Northern, Southern or Maritime borders. They provide site security, surveillance, drone detection, presence patrols, training, technical support, services, intelligence analysis, show of force, roadblocks/checkpoints, force protection, and security for a myriad of multi-agency operations.

Clearly the amount of arrests compared to the amount of illegal entries is overwhelming LEA’s and they require the assistance provided by the National Guard. Current surveillance systems used are stand alone, prepositioned, or hand held and limited in scope. The solution and best force multiplier to augment LEA operations is a fully mobile stabilized zoom camera system with; thermal infrared, High Definition Color, Laser Range Finder, and Laser Illuminator that can record video, snap pictures, designate grid coordinates (LAT/LONG & MGRS) up to 12,000 Kilometers with human detection, and simultaneously live stream into multiple agencies Command Posts, computers, smart phones, and tablets significantly increasing information sharing and accuracy of the common operating picture. This new mobile camera system is documented and proven successful in support of: ESF #3 – Public Works and Engineering; ESF #4 – Firefighting; ESF #5: Information and Planning; ESF #6: Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Temporary Housing and Human Services; ESF #9 – Search and Rescue; ESF #10 – Oil and Hazardous Materials Response; ESF #13 – Public Safety and Security.