Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) sent a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske today regarding the agency’s discontinuation of a mobile app that enabled ranchers, landowners, and other private citizens living in southern Arizona to monitor and report to CBP security incidents along the border. In the letter, Senator McCain explains that Arizonans found the technology useful to both maintain situational awareness for their personal safety, as well as provide information to Border Patrol agents that could help them prevent illegal border-crossings and combat illicit drug and human smuggling.
“I understand that this technology was deployed in 2013 in the Tucson Sector as part of a technology pilot program, which ended in September 2014,” writes Senator McCain. “According to my constituents in southern Arizona, the technology was positively received, effective at boosting situational awareness along private lands on the border, and an important tool in improving community relations with CBP. Given the importance of engaging with local communities in an effort to secure our border, I strongly urge you to restore this capability.”
The letter is below and here.
September 30, 2016
The Honorable R. Gil Kerlikowske
Commissioner
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20229
Dear Commissioner Kerlikowske,
I write seeking information regarding the reported discontinuation of specific technologies that allow for greater participation by, and response to, members of the border communities in the event of incidents along the border.
It was recently brought to my attention that ranchers, private landowners, and others in southern Arizona previously enjoyed access to an application (“app”) on their mobile phones that enabled them to report security concerns to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and monitor incidents along the border in real-time. I understand that this technology was deployed in 2013 in the Tucson Sector as part of a technology pilot program, which ended in September 2014. According to my constituents in southern Arizona, the technology was positively received, effective at boosting situational awareness along private lands on the border, and an important tool in improving community relations with CBP. Given the importance of engaging with local communities in an effort to secure our border, I strongly urge you to restore this capability.
Please provide answers to the following questions concerning efforts at CBP to identify technologies to provide greater situational awareness along the border and improve communications with the members of these communities:
- What factors led to the decision to discontinue use of the technology, which allowed for the real time reporting of incidences by individuals in the community, in the Tucson Sector?
- What were the advantages or disadvantages of this technology compared with other technologies used by CBP?
- Is this particular technology being deployed in other parts of the country? If so, how effective have they been?
- What efforts are underway at CBP to identify and deploy real-time reporting technology that enables members of border communities to communicate in real-time with law enforcement about border security issues or observations?
With this letter, I seek no action for the benefit of any particular organization or individual and expect that any action that is taken in connection with this matter is done in accordance with all applicable law, rules and regulations.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and I look forward to reviewing your response.
Sincerely,
John McCain
U.S. Senator
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